While the world focuses on the protests in Egypt and the violence in Syria, a new respiratory virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), claimed two new victims in Saudi Arabia recently. As of July 2nd, there have been 77 cases of MERS and 40 deaths, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC continues to work with the World Health Organization and their partners to better understand the virus. Director-General of the WHO Dr. Margareth Chan described the virus as a “threat to the entire world.” French doctors said longer quarantines may be necessary to stop the spread.
Coronaviruses are a certain subspecies of virus located in the Coronaviridae family. The name coronavirus derives from the Latin word corona, meaning halo or crown, and refers the virus’ physical similarity to a solar corona. MERS is a relative of the virus that caused SARS, which caused an international outbreak that infected nearly 10,000 and killed almost 800.
The first case of human infection occurred in September 2012. The original source and route of transmission to humans has not yet been determined. However, researchers believe that, like SARS, bats transmitted the disease to humans, but some virus hunters are testing camels, goats, and cats as well. Symptoms include cough and shortness of breath but also can be flulike and eventually progress into pneumonia. Symptoms seem to not appear until 10 days after onset of the illness, but researches are still unsure. MERS can spread person to person, and transmission from infected patients to health workers has been observed. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine for MERS, but health officials are discussing the possibility of developing one.
Veterinarian and epidemiologist, Dr. Jonathan Epstein explaining the recent increase in animal to human infections, said, “Disease spillover is not a malicious act of wild animals, rather an unfortunate consequence of people continuing to put pressure on ecosystems, creating increased contact with wildlife through urbanization, agricultural expansion, travel, and trade.”
Geographically, the virus has been detected in 8 countries: Britain, France, Italy, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The cases have been primarily connected to the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, which has had 62 patients so far. The annual Muslim pilgrimage, known as the Hajj, has many health experts worried, as it draws millions of visitors from around the world to Saudi Arabia.
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Photo Friday: New Deaths from MERS Coronavirus
July 5, 2013
While the world focuses on the protests in Egypt and the violence in Syria, a new respiratory virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), claimed two new victims in Saudi Arabia recently. As of July 2nd, there have been 77 cases of MERS and 40 deaths, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC continues to work with the World Health Organization and their partners to better understand the virus. Director-General of the WHO Dr. Margareth Chan described the virus as a “threat to the entire world.” French doctors said longer quarantines may be necessary to stop the spread.
Coronaviruses are a certain subspecies of virus located in the Coronaviridae family. The name coronavirus derives from the Latin word corona, meaning halo or crown, and refers the virus’ physical similarity to a solar corona. MERS is a relative of the virus that caused SARS, which caused an international outbreak that infected nearly 10,000 and killed almost 800.
The first case of human infection occurred in September 2012. The original source and route of transmission to humans has not yet been determined. However, researchers believe that, like SARS, bats transmitted the disease to humans, but some virus hunters are testing camels, goats, and cats as well. Symptoms include cough and shortness of breath but also can be flulike and eventually progress into pneumonia. Symptoms seem to not appear until 10 days after onset of the illness, but researches are still unsure. MERS can spread person to person, and transmission from infected patients to health workers has been observed. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine for MERS, but health officials are discussing the possibility of developing one.
Veterinarian and epidemiologist, Dr. Jonathan Epstein explaining the recent increase in animal to human infections, said, “Disease spillover is not a malicious act of wild animals, rather an unfortunate consequence of people continuing to put pressure on ecosystems, creating increased contact with wildlife through urbanization, agricultural expansion, travel, and trade.”
Geographically, the virus has been detected in 8 countries: Britain, France, Italy, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The cases have been primarily connected to the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, which has had 62 patients so far. The annual Muslim pilgrimage, known as the Hajj, has many health experts worried, as it draws millions of visitors from around the world to Saudi Arabia.
