In May 2014, US public health laboratories responded quickly to detect the first two US cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (CoV) in Indiana and Florida. Both cases were healthcare providers who traveled to the US from Saudi Arabia. Both were hospitalized in the US and later discharged after fully recovering.
The Investigation
The first imported case of MERS-CoV was detected by the Indiana State Department of Health Laboratories on May 1, 2014 and subsequently confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Indiana State Department of Health Laboratories tested over 140 additional specimens from contacts of the patient. Public health laboratories in 15 other states were involved in the investigation of patient contacts in their jurisdictions.
A second imported case of MERS-CoV in the US was identified by the Florida State Public Health Laboratory in Tampa and confirmed by CDC and was not linked to the first case of MERS-CoV detected in Indiana.
CDC was able to quickly apply advanced molecular detection capabilities to the investigation of the MERS-CoV cases. Complete genomic sequences from the two 2014 MERS-CoV cases in the US are available to researchers via GenBank.
For additional information, see the CDC MERS-CoV website.
MERS Laboratory Tests
CDC real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) test kits were deployed via the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) after the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) was issued by FDA in June 2013. Most state public health laboratories in the US are approved to test for MERS-CoV using CDC's rRT-PCR assay. This test is conducted under the authority of an EUA because there are no FDA-cleared/approved tests available for diagnostic purposes in the US. CDC also conducts MERS-CoV serology.
Resources for Public Health Laboratories
Note: The Emergency Use Authorization has been expanded to allow for testing of asymptomatic contacts.