Department Of Health Issues Travel Advisory

The Department of Health would like to advise any persons traveling to the Middle East that there is currently a serious respiratory illness of unknown cause afflicting individuals in that region, known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus [MERS-CoV].

An outbreak of MERS-CoV, first reported in 2012, has affected nine countries to date. The World Health Organization [WHO] is coordinating the global response to this emerging virus according to the International Health Regulations.

“This advisory is based on information provided by WHO and provides guidance to anyone who will be travelling to the Middle East in the coming months”, a spokesperson said.

“It should be noted that, at this time, the risk to individual travelers is considered to be very low. However, it is important that all travelers be aware of the current health advisory.

Travelers to this area who have a pre-existing major medical condition [e.g. chronic diseases such as diabetes or chronic bronchitis, immunodeficiency] should be aware that these conditions can increase the likelihood of medical problems, including MERS-CoV infection, during travel.

“As a result, travelers should consult a health care provider before travelling to review the risk and assess whether making the journey is medically advisable.

“Travelers can take the following steps:

• wash hands often with soap and water. When hands are not visibly dirty, a hand rub can be used;
• adhere to good food safety practices, such as avoiding undercooked meat or food prepared under unsanitary conditions, and properly washing fruits and vegetables before eating them;
• maintain good personal hygiene;
• and avoid unnecessary contact with farm, domestic, and wild animals.

“Travelers who develop respiratory infection during their trip [especially infection accompanied by fever, coughing or shortness of breath] or other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, should be advised to do the following:

• minimize their contact with others to keep from infecting them;
• cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and discard the tissue in the trash after use and wash hands afterwards, or, if this is not possible, to cough or sneeze into upper sleeves of their clothing, but not their hands;
• and report to the medical staff accompanying the group or to the local health services.

“Travelers returning to Bermuda should be advised that if they develop acute febrile respiratory illness during the two weeks after their return, they should seek medical attention and immediately notify their local health authority.

“Persons who have had close contact with a traveler with acute febrile respiratory illness and who themselves develop an acute febrile respiratory illness should be advised to report to local health authorities to be monitored for MERS-CoV.

“Additionally, medical practitioners and facilities should be alert to the possibility of MERS CoV infection in persons returning from the Middle East with acute respiratory illness, especially those with fever and cough and pulmonary parenchymal disease (eg. pneumonia or the acute respiratory distress syndrome).

“If clinical presentation suggests the diagnosis of MERS-CoV, laboratory testing, in accordance with WHO’s case definition, should be done and infection prevention and control measures implemented”.

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