Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2023)

The Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Mers-Cov is a new zoonotic beta corona virus of the C lineage identified in dromedary camels in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that exhibits the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) receptor. It was first described in the Saudi Arabian kingdom of Saud in September of 2012, and worldwide in May of 2019. Camels are usually asymptomatic when afflicted. Unlike in camels, clinical signs and symptoms of MERS-CoV infection in humans range from asymptomatic or mild respiratory disease to severe respiratory illness and death. There is no pathognomonic manifestation in people or camels. Molecular and serologic tests are necessary to verify the diagnosis. There is presently no medication or vaccine available to treat or prevent MERS-CoV infection in humans. Strict restriction of camel movement, isolation of ill camels, camel handlers using personal protective equipment, and public awareness creation are all critical approaches for controlling MERS-CoV transmission, particularly among Ethiopian pastoralists who ingest unpasteurized camel milk. As a result, urgent epidemiological investigations are required, particularly in the nations' impoverished camel raising areas, to better understand the transmission patterns and human cases of MERS-CoV, as well as to guarantee that the aforementioned control measures are appropriately executed. As a result, the purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and public health implications of MERS-CoV in Ethiopia's highly exposed pastoralist community, which has intimate contact with camels, and to recommend the illness for further epidemiological monitoring and inquiry.