Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus–Specific T-Cell Responses in Dromedary Camel Abattoir Workers in Nigeria Suggests Frequent Zoonotic Spillover

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is assessed to have high pandemic risk, and dromedary camels are the source of zoonotic spillover. More than 75% of MERS-CoV-infected dromedary camels are found in Africa, but no zoonotic disease has been reported from Africa where there is little awareness of MERS-CoV as a potential cause of respiratory disease. Antibody responses are a poor indicator of mild infection. We found that 47 of 60 (78%) dromedary camel abattoir workers in Kano, Nigeria, had MERS-CoV-specific T-cell responses while none of 18 controls did, suggesting that zoonotic infection is common in camel-exposed individuals in Africa.