FDA grants emergency approval for test to detect MERS

Published October 23, 2015

A man, wearing a surgical mask as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus, walks near a hospital in Khobar city in Dammam May 21, 2013. (Reuters)

This electron microscope image shows the MERS virus, colorized in yellow. The mysterious new respiratory virus that originated in the Middle East spreads easily between people and appears more deadly than SARS, doctors reported. (AP2013)

The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization on Tuesday for a diagnostic test to detect the presence of the Middle East coronavirus at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The emergency approval follows the Health and Human Services secretary's determination that the virus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which has killed at least 40 people, poses a potential public health threat.

On July 5, the World Health Organization said MERS, which can cause fever, coughing and pneumonia, had not yet reached pandemic potential and may simply die out.

WHO experts last month said countries at risk from MERS should put in place plans for handling mass gatherings but has stopped short of recommending restrictions on travel.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/health/fda-grants-emergency-approval-for-test-to-detect-mers