Additional Resources

General MERS Information

• Outbreaks and Emergencies. World Health Organization (WHO). Provides up-to-date information on existing global outbreaks.
• Health Alert Network. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Provides up-to-date information about urgent public health incidents to public information officers; federal, state, territorial, and local public health practitioners; clinicians; and public health laboratories.
• Coronavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). World Health Organization (WHO).

General Resources for Workers and Employers

• Bloodborne Infectious Diseases: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Though not specific to MERS, describes engineering controls and work practices to prevent exposure to blood and other body fluids through which the virus is transmitted.
• OSHA Respiratory Protection e-Tool. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
• Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topic. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
• Protecting Workers During a Pandemic Fact Sheet. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Information for Healthcare Workers and Employers

• Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Reviews guidelines and strategies for preventing environment-associated infections in healthcare facilities for previous diseases of concern and offers recommendations.
• Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Written for use by healthcare providers and administrators with responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection control programs for healthcare settings across the continuum of care.
• CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs): Guidelines and Recommendations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topic. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Provides hyperlinks to a variety of training videos related to respiratory protection, including fit testing, medical evaluations, respirator types, and training requirements.
• Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection is suspected. World Health Organization (WHO).
• Case Definitions – Patients Under Investigation (PUI). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Updated Information and Guidelines for Evaluation of Patients for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008. William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., David J. Weber, M.D., M.P.H., and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Provides evidence-based recommendations on the preferred methods for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of patient care medical devices and for cleaning and disinfecting the healthcare environment.
• Implementing Home Care and Isolation or Quarantine of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for MERS-CoV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Healthcare Provider Preparedness Checklist for MERS-CoV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Healthcare Facility Preparedness Checklist. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Infection prevention and control during health care for probable or confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. World Health Organization (WHO).

Information for Medical Transport Workers and Employers

• Guidance on Air Medical Transport for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Patients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Information for Laboratory Workers and Employers

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 5th Edition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Features the most recent guidance on protecting workers in laboratory environments. The following sections may be particularly relevant to employers and workers regarding MERS:
  • Section IV – Laboratory Biosafety Level Criteria
  • Section VII – Occupational Health and Immunoprophylaxis
  • Section VIII-E – Viral Agents Agent Summary
• Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 3rd Edition. Provides practical guidance on biosafety techniques for use in laboratories at all levels. World Health Organization (WHO).
• Laboratory Testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Version 2.1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Hospital e-Tool. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
• Laboratory Safety Biosafety Cabinets Fact Sheet. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
• Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Version 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Information for Airline Workers and Employers

• Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Interim Guidance for Airline Crew: Report Ill Travelers on Flights Arriving to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Guidance for Airlines on Reporting Onboard Deaths or Illnesses to CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Air Crew Safety and Health – Communicable Diseases Workplace Safety and Health Topic. National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Infection Control Guidelines for Cabin Crew Members on Commercial Aircraft. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Provides practical measures that cabin crewmembers can implement to protect themselves, passengers, and other crewmembers when someone on board is ill with a suspected infectious disease.
• Air Transport and Communicable Diseases. International Air Transport Association (IATA). Provides guidelines for in-flight cabin crewmembers when managing a suspected case of infectious disease.
• Quarantine and Isolation -- Airline Guidance for Managing Ill Passengers/Crew. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Provides information about infection control aboard aircraft, particularly when managing ill passengers or crew members.

Information for Mortuary and Death Care Workers and Employers

• Health and Safety Recommendations for Workers Who Handle Human Remains Fact Sheet. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Monitoring and Surveillance

• U.S. Quarantine Stations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A comprehensive system that serves to limit the introduction and spread of contagious diseases in the U.S.
• Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) – About DGMQ. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). DGMQ quarantine stations work to detect and respond to ill travelers who have serious diseases of public health interest. Stations are located at points of entry (e.g., international airports) and are designed to help prevent arriving travelers from spreading diseases within the U.S.

Morbidity and Mortality Reporting Tools

• Guidance for Airlines on Reporting Onboard Deaths or Illnesses to CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Training Sources and Tools

• Training and Reference Materials Library. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Contains training and reference materials developed by the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education (DTE) as well as hyperlinks to related training material.
• Respiratory Protection Training Videos. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Provides hyperlinks to a variety of training videos related to respiratory protection, including fit testing, medical evaluations, respirator types, and training requirements.