Multiyear prospective cohort study to evaluate the risk potential of MERS-CoV infection among Malaysian hajj pilgrims (MERCURIAL): A study protocol
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-CoV. MERS was first reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Every year, the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca attracts more than two million pilgrims from 184 countries, making it one of the largest annual religious mass gatherings (MGs) worldwide. MGs in confined areas with a high number of pilgrims' movements worldwide continues to elicit significant global public health concerns. MERCURIAL was designed by adopting a seroconversion surveillance approach to provide multiyear evidence of MG-associated MERS-CoV seroconversion among the Malaysian Hajj pilgrims. Methods and analysis MERCURIAL is an ongoing multiyear prospective cohort study. Every year, for the next 5 years, a cohort of 1000 Hajj pilgrims was enrolled beginning in the 2016 Hajj pilgrimage season. Pre-Hajj and post-Hajj serum samples were obtained and serologically analysed for evidence of MERS-CoV seroconversion. Sociodemographic data, underlying medical conditions, symptoms experienced during Hajj pilgrimage, and exposure to camel and untreated camel products were recorded using structured pre-Hajj and post-Hajj questionnaires. The possible risk factors associated with the seroconversion data were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The primary outcome of this study is to better enhance our understanding of the potential threat of MERS-CoV spreading through MG beyond the Middle East. Ethics and dissemination This study has obtained ethical approval from the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia. Results from the study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented in conferences and scientific meetings.
Keywords
Infectious diseases, Epidemiology, Public health, Virology
Divisions
tidrec
Funders
US Naval Medical Research Centre-Asia (NMRC-A) through US Department of Defence's Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (DoD-GEIS) programme,Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)/Cooperative Biological Engagement Programme (CBEP)
Publication Title
BMJ Open
Volume
11
Issue
8
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Publisher Location
BRITISH MED ASSOC HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON WC1H 9JR, ENGLAND