Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV): Levels of Knowledge and Awareness in Bahrain

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS−CoV) was first identified in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2012 that accounts 80% of the global cases. On 10th of April 2016, Bahrain notified WHO of a first fatal case. Hence, as a public health research and practice, the authors sought to assess the knowledge and awareness of MERS-CoV in Bahrain. A cross-sectional, conveniently sampled study was carried out through face-to-face interviews using a structured Arabic questionnaire among 498 Bahraini adults. While, 95% had a travel history to KSA, around 50% had the knowledge and awareness of MERS CoV being a viral lethal disease and its associated symptoms. Stratifying by socio-demographics, the authors found that the levels ofeducation, occupation, history of travel to KSA were significantly associated with the knowledge and awareness of MERS CoV (p < 0.05). On the preventive measures of MERS CoV, occupation and history of travel to KSA were significantly associated (p < 0.05). Considering the first notified case from Bahrain, proximity and travel history to KSA of 95% of the Bahrainis, the knowledge and awareness of MERS CoV is found to be inadequate. Therefore, the knowledge and awareness campaign on MERS CoV is pivotal as a good public health practice. Keywords: MERS-CoV, Knowledge, Awareness, Bahrain