Consider MERS if a patient has:
A history of travel to or near the Arabian peninsula in the past 14 days OR had close contact with a probable or confirmed case of MERS in the last 14 days.
AND
Now presents with Fever (>100 F) OR has a respiratory illness (cough, runny nose, shortness of breath) OR abnormal Chest X ray/CT (suggestive of Pneumonia or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome-ARDS)
[Arabian Peninsula countries include: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen]
Infection Control measures are adhered for all healthcare providers including standard, contact, and airborne precautions.
Interim home care and isolation is advised for ill persons being evaluated for MERS who do not require hospitalization. Healthcare providers should be under the care of University Health Services or their preferred provider in consultation with the Health Department.
Additional recommendations will come forth as the illness is evaluated.
For additional information, refer to the Tennessee Department of Health or the Center for Disease Control websites: https://health.state.tn.us/https://www.cdc.gov/CORONAVIRUS/MERS/INDEX.HTML