How to sample surfaces in health-care settings for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus Protocol, tools and implementation guidance

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 an investigation of environmental surface contamination of MERS-CoV in health-care settings. This study would ideally be implemented as soon as possible once a confirmed MERS case is identified in a health-care facility. This investigation will assess the extent and persistence of environmental surface contamination of MERS-CoV in the facility and will determine possible routes of onward MERS-CoV transmission in health-care settings.   

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