MERC, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, is an acute respiratory disease that generally involves the upper respiratory tract. Almost 30 percent of people who have contracted this illness have died. Few people only have mild symptoms. The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is the cause of MERS (MERS-CoV). A class of viruses known as coronaviruses is capable of causing moderate to severe respiratory infections.
MERS was initially reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and then spread to other countries. The majority of infections were spread by visitors to the Middle Eastern nations. There have only been two MERS cases reported in the US thus far. In 2014, they were identified in patients who were coming to the US from Saudi Arabia. The virus poses little risk to people in the USA.
How Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) spreads
The MERS virus is mainly transmitted from animals to people via the MERS-CoV virus. MERS risk factors include exposure to camels, as this virus has been detected in these animals. The virus may spread between people in close contact. It includes healthcare professionals who care for patients with MERS.
It’s unclear how long this virus takes to incubate. It is the amount of time between when a person is exposed to the virus and when symptoms happen. The average incubation duration is about five days, but there are cases that occur between two to fourteen days after exposure.
MERS Symptoms
There are various symptoms of Middle East Respiratory syndrome, such as
- Shortness of breath
- Chills and fever
- Cough
Less common symptoms are diarrhea, coughing up blood, and vomiting
Few people infected with MERS-CoV had little symptoms or no symptoms at all. Pneumonia and renal failure have been reported in certain MERS patients. Out of every ten MERS patients, three to four have passed away. The majority of patients with serious illnesses who passed away also had other medical conditions that weakened their immune systems.
As of now, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for MERS. There is supportive care provided.
Vital steps to help prevent MERS
If you are going to travel to one of the countries where MERS is present, the CDS recommends adopting the following steps to avoid illness.
- You should clean your hands often with soap/handwash and water for 20 seconds. Help young kids do the same. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Whenever you sneeze or cough, you should cover your nose area and mouth with a tissue and discard it in the garbage.
- You should not touch your nose, eyes, and mouth with unwashed and dirty hands.
- Avoid close contact, such as sharing cups, kissing, or sharing eating utensils with sick people.
- Disinfect and clean frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs and toys.
- After handling animals, including camels, always be sure to wash your hands fully. There have been reports that the MERS virus is present in a few camels.
Alternative Names
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; MERS-CoV; Coronaviruses; CoV
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