The MERS coronavirus is a recent strain of coronavirus that triggers the rapid onset of severe respiratory disease. Most cases develop among individuals who have underlying health conditions that makes them prone to end up with respiratory infections. Most of the reported cases occur among those who live or travelled to the Middle East.
What are the indications?
In most of the confirmed cases, there is rapid onset of serious respiratory illness especially pneumonia such as:
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
Other symptoms were also reported in some cases which includes diarrhea, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting.
How does MERS coronavirus spreads?
The virus is likely to originate in bats but the infections are not necessarily spread by bats directly to humans. Even though camels are suspected as the main source of infection among humans, the exact routes of exposure are still unknown.
Most of the reported cases were likely to acquire the infection via human to human transmission. Examples include outbreaks in healthcare facilities involving transmission from infected patients to healthcare workers.
Preventive measures
Even today, there is no available vaccine to prevent MERS coronavirus. Those who are travelling to high risk areas should observe the following:
- Wash hands on a regular basis using a hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available.
- When handling animals, always wash hands before and after.
- Avoid drinking raw milk or foods that might be contaminated with animal products unless they are thoroughly peeled, washed or cooked.
Management
MERS coronavirus is usually diagnosed by detecting genetic material from the virus in the respiratory samples such as lung fluid.
At the present, there is no specific treatment for individuals who acquired MERS coronavirus but general supportive care can be highly beneficial.