Purpose: The presentation will describe these 2 emerging zoonotic diseases and will discuss their link to exposure to food producing animals and their potential food safety implications.
Methods: Up to March 2014, approx. 390 human cases of H7N9 and approx. 200 cases of human MERS-CoV have been reported. Understanding their different possible exposures to contaminated environment, infected animals or their products can give information on the possible food safety implication of these 2 diseases and on possible ways of mitigating their further spread.
Results: H7N9 is an influenza virus of avian origin and has been detected in poultry in different affected provinces in China. The virus has also been detected in live bird markets where human cases have reported having contact with poultry or their environment. MERS-CoV has been detected in dromedary camels. Other livestock possibly implicated are also being investigated. A substantial number of human cases of MER-CoV infections have reported contacts with camels or with livestock or their products.
Significance: The possible confirmation of these common livestock as an important source of exposure for humans to these 2 viruses could pose serious challenges in terms of prevention and control, especially if the viruses do not cause obvious disease or symptoms in livestock animals. Based on our current understanding of the persistence of these viruses in the environment, animals and their food products, the presentation will discuss their potential impact in terms of food safety and food handling.