Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral disease first diagnosed in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and is very similar to the SARS virus that emerged in 2003. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), since the outbreak of MERS, 173 people have already succumbed to this disease. Victims were often reported who lived in the Middle East or had recently traveled to this area. A new outbreak of the MERS virus was recently identified in South Korea, where several dozen fatalities have already occurred.
What is the MERS coronavirus?
MERS is a viral respiratory disease characterized by flu-like symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath and general debility. The severity of these symptoms can range from quite mild to very severe, possibly causing pneumonia, gastrointestinal illness, kidney failure and even death.
The MERS coronavirus is very similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), another highly contagious respiratory disease that originated in China in 2003 and subsequently had a worldwide outbreak. Although MERS appears to be less deadly than the SARS virus, it is still more dangerous than the influenza virus and other common viruses. When someone becomes infected with the MERS virus, there is a thirty percent chance of a fatal outcome.
In addition to MERS, the coronavirus can also be the cause of the common cold and some animal diseases.
Source and transmission of MERS
Although the exact source of the MERS virus is not yet known, recent research points to camels as a potential source of the virus. In the Middle East, where the virus initially broke out, the dromedary is common and is assigned many functions, including livestock, means of transport and pet.
Research has shown that the MERS virus can be transmitted to humans through exposure to the saliva, mucus and other body fluids of camels. Eating dromedary meat or drinking unpasteurized dromedary milk also carries an increased risk of transmitting the virus.
The MERS virus is much less contagious compared to other infectious diseases such as influenza and measles, making it much less likely that the virus will be transmitted from person to person. When this does happen, the infection usually takes place in a hospital by already infected patients or health care workers.
Treatment and prevention
There is currently no conclusive treatment against MERS. Healthcare providers treat infected patients with supportive medical care aimed at relieving symptoms associated with the disease. Such measures include medication and antibiotics for fever and secondary infections and the administration of supplemental oxygen for shortness of breath. So far, there is no vaccine against the MERS virus.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), only those people who come into close contact with infected people are at increased risk of contracting the MERS virus. As with other respiratory diseases, certain preventive measures apply to prevent contamination: Wash hands, disinfect surfaces and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth before washing hands. The CDC has issued guidelines for hospitals in affected areas to minimize transmission to other patients and staff while treating infected or potentially infected patients.
Travel safely to the Middle East
The risk of contracting a MERS infection while traveling is extremely small, which is why no negative travel advice is given to this region. WHO does state that travelers to the Arabian Peninsula who suffer from a chronic illness or immune disorder should take necessary precautions when in the presence of dromedaries and camels and avoid consuming dromedary meat, unpasteurized dromedary milk and other food that could be contaminated Avoid by animal secretions.
Healthy people are advised to wash hands after handling dromedaries, camels and other farm animals, avoid contact with sick animals and maintain good food hygiene at all times.
