Fast Facts: The MERS Coronavirus

[Terpe]

As of April 24, the World Health Organization reported 254 laboratory-confirmed cases of infections worldwide

Last April 15, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who tested positive for the highly infectious MERS Coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates arrived in the Philippines.

After he was confined and retested, the Department of Health (DOH) declared him "free from the virus."

As of Thursday, April 24, the World Health Organization reported 254 laboratory-confirmed cases of infections, 93 of which resulted in death, worldwide.

Two Filipinos were among those who died. One was a nurse in Saudi Arabia and the other was a Filipino worker in the United Arab Emirates.

Not familiar with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus? Here are a few things you need to know:

1. MERS Coronavirus is a contagious respiratory disease.

WHO said coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory illnesses in both humans and animals, ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS.

Never before seen in humans, it was initially referred to as the novel coronavirus (nCoV). It was later renamed MERS Coronavirus by the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, a group of experts organizing and authorizing the classification of viruses.

2. MERS can be transmitted by close contact with a person who tests positive with the virus.

People who may be infected by the virus include (1) those who shared close physical contact with the patient, (2) who lived with or visited the patient during their illness, and (3) even those who provided care for the patient.

3. Caught the bug? Check if you’re experiencing fever, coughs, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Diarrhea and kidney failure are also possibilities. You may be infected with MERS if you’re displaying these signs within 14 days of travel from the Middle East, or have made contact with patients suspected with the infection.

4. Children, pregnant women, people aged 65 and above, and those with weak immune system or chronic diseases are most vulnerable to the infection.

According to the Gulf News, majority of MERS infections have occurred among the elderly and people suffering from chronic illnesses. Due to the increasing number of MERS cases, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health issued regulations that advise pilgrims, especially the elderly, to postpone their travel plans to the Middle East.

In the Philippines, DOH urged the public to practice proper hygiene.

5. More than a third or 93 out of 254 confirmed cases of MERS resulted in death.

Some patients died with severe complications such as renal failure. In June 2012, a 60-year-old man in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was the first victim infected with the virus. Three months later, a Qatari man who travelled from Saudi Arabia also contracted the virus.

Healthcare institutions continue to administer treatment that target symptoms, as well as airborne precautions such as placing patients in isolation rooms.

6. There are no known vaccines available for MERS for now.

WHO recommends that treatment be largely done based on the patient’s condition. Hospitals are encouraged to apply supportive medical care to relieve symptoms of its patients and to prevent the spread of infection.

WHO continues to conduct investigations and informs member-states about current vital developments to help them effectively respond to the growing number of cases.

DOH is already in touch with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in making sure MERS and other emerging diseases are tracked.

7. There is still no MERS epidemic or outbreak in the Middle East.

The Bureau of Quarantine also continues screening travelers upon entry to the Philippines, though no travel restrictions have been imposed.

Passengers of the Etihad Flight Number EY 0424, which carried the OFW who tested positive of the virus, were also asked to immediately contact the DOH hotline numbers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and DOH advised Filipinos, especially OFWs in the Middle East, not to panic and to seek medical attention once symptoms of MERS appear.

Source:-
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/...rs-coronavirus

[Doc Alan]

The “ fast facts “ are changing every week, so no–one, not even the “ experts “, yet know the full facts about MERS.


The Rappler intern calls the MERS Coronavirus ( MERS-CoV ) “ highly infectious “. If it was, there would be far more than the 340 or so cases diagnosed since first recognised two years ago in Jordan. We don’t know the true number, as some cases may have mild or unusual symptoms, but so far there is no evidence of an epidemic.


There’s no vaccine. World Health Organization ( WHO ) doesn’t advise travel / trade restrictions or special screening at points of entry to countries. Recent travellers from the Middle East who develop severe acute respiratory infections with fever, cough, and breathing difficulties ( SARI ) should be tested for MERS-CoV and treated in hospital. Close contacts should be identified. Incubation period may vary between 2 – 14 days.


Most cases now reported seem to be secondary to human-human transmission. It’s expected that cases will continue to be " exported " to other countries. What is unusual for coronavirus infections is the high death rate here ( up to 40%, over 100 ). Bad news for individual patients and their families, but also not good for the virus – its spread is limited.


There’s evidence from the Middle East that camels may be a source of MERS-CoV.


Many coronaviruses cause colds, which are inconvenient but usually not serious. They spread very easily - because they kill very few patients.


SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) was also caused by a coronavirus. It was first diagnosed in China in 2002, with over 8,000 cases. It killed about 800 people – the 10% death rate allowed this virus to spread more easily than the MERS-CoV. SARS was brought under control a decade ago.


All cases of MERS-CoV infection have originated in the Middle East. There are FAR commoner causes of fever ( with / without chest symptoms ) to rule out or treat. These include TB, malaria, and dengue for those living in - or travelling from - the tropics. MOST are due to self-limiting viral infections ; some more severe infections are due to bacteria ( bugs ) and need antibiotics ; others are non infectious and can be hard to diagnose.



By all means take note of MERS-CoV infection. But it needs a sense of proportion. Of all deaths, 2 out of 5 in the Philippines and 1 out of 5 in the UK are from other infections. The majority in BOTH countries are due to " non communicable diseases " like heart and lung diseases and cancer.


http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coron...40424.pdf?ua=1

[joebloggs]

6 Filipino nurses in Saudi infected with MERS coronavirus

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-fi...rs-coronavirus

[Doc Alan]

I hope my response to this thread was helpful.


The number of reported cases of MERS-CoV continues to rise ( now 632, with 193 deaths ( 30% ), but there is still NO evidence of sustained human-human transmission. World Health Organization neither advises special screening at points of entry, nor travel or trade restrictions.


Despite the media’s claims that MERS-CoV infection was first " discovered " in Saudi Arabia in September 2012, the infection appeared in Jordan some 5 months previously.


Total deaths from SARS-CoV infection ( over 10 years ago ) and MERS-CoV infection ( so far ) are about 1000. In China alone, air pollution may kill that number every day - mainly through effects on lungs. Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 of the UK and Filipino population STILL smoke. Polluted air increases susceptibility to infection.


Other chest infections like TB are also far more serious, common - especially in the Philippines - and worrying, with drug resistance an increasing concern.


Nobody is suggesting MERS-CoV should not cause concern. But it’s hard to understand why air pollution, lack of new antibiotics, and no universal flu vaccine command less interest and concern than they surely deserve .


http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_05_22_mers/en/#

[Doc Alan]

There has been recent global media attention again on " MERS " ( Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ) following an outbreak in Seoul, South Korea, with 41 cases and 4 deaths so far.


The first case concerned a 68 years old man who had returned from the Middle East to South Korea last month, where he then developed symptoms. It seems lack of a quarantine protocol and poor public health surveillance then allowed a business trip by a symptomatic man who had been in contact with the first patient, from Seoul to Hong Kong and then by bus to Huizhou in southern China. This led to contact tracing by local public health authorities - and panic in mainland China and Hong Kong.


There are now about 1,600 people in quarantine, with 1100 schools closed, and other measures, in South Korea, in an attempt to prevent further spread of the MERS coronavirus.



It has taken many by surprise because South Korea’s healthcare system is thought to be good.


There have been about 1,200 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 490 deaths ( 2/5 ) in total since MERS was discovered in 2012. There are similarities to " SARS " ( severe acute respiratory syndrome ), which was reported from China in 2002, affecting over 8,000 with about 800 deaths, before eventually being controlled.


Each have incubation period of about 5 days ; affecting mainly adults ; although MERS is so far commoner in men , unlike SARS ; common symptoms being fever, shortness of breath and cough, and feeling unwell generally ; pneumonia ( then multiple organ failure ) is the main serious complication .


There are no vaccines or cures. Convalescent sera with antibodies from recovered patients might be helpful. There’s still much we DON’T know about MERS. So far it’s not been shown to spread easily between humans, although there’s always the possibility of mutation to increase this ability to spread.


So good hygiene practices like hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing " surgical " masks, and avoiding personal contact with sick people would help where possible ; together with good hospital infection control, isolation and supportive treatment of patients.


Most cases have occurred in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – although they have been widely reported in people who travelled from the Middle East or their contacts.


Much is known about the MERS virus itself, which is an RNA coronavirus, capable of mutation like other Coviruses, but there has been NO major mutation. However, the exact source and mode of transmission to humans is unknown – although transmission from camels has been linked to human infection ( directly or from unpasteurised milk ).


Expert opinion at present is that MERS-CoV is not ( yet ) fully adapted to infecting people, and person-to-person transmission is not ( yet ) efficient enough for a pandemic. Let’s hope they’re right, and keep a sense of proportion .


http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/03/wo...th-korea-mers/


http://www.thelancet.com/pb/assets/r...0015002386.pdf