How to conduct a case-control study to assess the potential risk factors related to human illness caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Overview

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is considered an emerging zoonotic virus with dromedary camels serving as the animal reservoir. The emergence of a new virus means that we have a limited understanding of transmission patterns, severity, clinical features and risk factors for infection. To address these unknowns, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided several MERS-CoV investigation protocols. This protocol describes a case-control study of MERS cases and uninfected neighbourhood and hospital controls. This study would take place when a primary or sporadic MERS-case (or index case in a cluster) has been identified. The primary purpose of this study is to identify modifiable and other risk factors for MERS-CoV infection.

Within this protocol there are detailed study procedures (e.g. recruitment, follow-up, laboratory), other study-specific guidance (e.g. ethical considerations, statistical analysis), and “Implementation tip” boxes which include further helpful details and/or considerations for adaptation of the protocol for the local context.