Stability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) under different environmental conditions
Eurosurveillance·
- DOI
- 10.2807/1560-7917.es2013.18.38.20590
- PMID
- 24084338
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W1984335993
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The paper is relevant because it describes environmental persistence of MERS-CoV, which may inform discussion of transmission-related context. It does not provide surveillance data or clinical outcome data.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study asked how temperature and relative humidity affect the stability of MERS-CoV, including after aerosolisation.
Study design
This was an experimental laboratory study of MERS-CoV stability under controlled environmental conditions. It examined several temperature and humidity combinations and included aerosolisation testing.
Population and setting
The setting was a laboratory assessment of MERS-CoV under defined environmental conditions rather than a human population setting. Conditions tested included 20°C with 40% relative humidity, and 30°C with 30% or 80% relative humidity.
Main findings
MERS-CoV was reported to be more stable under cooler, drier conditions and remained recoverable after 48 hours. The abstract also states that no drop in stability was seen during aerosolisation at 20°C and 40% relative humidity. The authors say these results suggest possible contact or fomite transmission related to environmental persistence.
Public-health relevance
The paper is relevant because it describes environmental persistence of MERS-CoV, which may inform discussion of transmission-related context. It does not provide surveillance data or clinical outcome data.
Important limitations
The summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata, so fuller methods and context require the original paper for decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
This article is discoverable as laboratory background evidence on MERS-CoV environmental stability and transmission context. It should not be treated as confirmation of a live surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.