nov 1, 2012 - MERS
Description:
MERS is also known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-CoV is caused by a virus. The virus is zoonotic so it originated in animals, likely camels in the Middle East. The camels may have gotten the disease from bats. Animal to human transmission is not understood currently, but human to human transmission likely occurs through respiratory droplets. It requires close contact with an infected person in a hospital setting. Traveling in and around the Arabian Peninsula, close contact with camels, close contact with someone who has the disease would put someone at risk. Symptoms of MERS include fever, cough, shortness of breath. Some gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure. Having pre-existing conditions puts people at a higher risk of contracting MERS as well as developing more severe complications, and death. No antiviral has been found to work, supportive care is used. There is no vaccine to prevent MERS. Avoid traveling to the Arabian Peninsula, interacting with camels, and people who have the virus. General good hygiene practices such as good handwashing, disinfecting surfaces, covering your mouth/nose when you cough or sneeze etc will help prevent being contaminated. According to the WHO there had been 1227 confirmed cases globally (as of 2015) though the number has since gone up. Just like almost every disease we’ve studied MERS is primarily centered in one region, but because of increased trade and travel MERS has spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula. Much like HIV and Ebola, it’s a zoonotic disease.
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Diseases and The History of Them Among The World
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