- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
- Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
- Typical MERS symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.
- Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS have died.
- Although the majority of human cases of MERS have been attributed to human-to-human infections, camels are likely to be a major reservoir host for MERS-CoVand an animal source of MERS infection in humans. However, the exact role of camels in transmission of the virus and the exact route(s) of transmission are unknown.
- The virus does not seem to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as occurs when providing unprotected care to a patient.
- The clinical spectrum of MERS-CoVinfection ranges from no symptoms (asymptomatic) or mild respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory disease and death.
- A typical presentation of MERS-CoVdisease is fever, cough and shortness of breath.
- Pneumonia is a common finding, but not always present.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.
- The virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.
Source of the virus…
- MERS-CoVis a zoonotic virus that is transmitted from animals to humans.
- The origins of the virus are not fully understood but, it is believed that it originated in bats and was transmitted to camels sometime in the distant past.
- Nonhuman to human transmission: The route of transmission from animals to humans is not fully understood, but camels are likely to be a major reservoir host for MERS and an animal source of infection in humans. Strains of MERSCoVCoV that are identical to human strains have been isolated from camels in several countries, including Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia .
- Human to human transmission: The virus does not appear to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as providing unprotected care to an infected patient. There have been clusters of cases in healthcare facilities, where humanhuman transmission appears to be more probable, especially when infection prevention and control practices are inadequate. Thus far, no sustained community transmission has been documented.
- No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition .
- As a general precaution, anyone visiting farms, markets, barns, or other places where camels and other animals are present should practice general hygiene measures, including regular hand washing before and after touching animals, and should avoid contact with sick animals .
- The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, carries a high risk of infection from a variety of organisms that might cause disease in humans. Animal products that are processed appropriately through cooking or pasteurization are safe for consumption, but should also be handled with care to avoid cross contamination with uncooked foods. Camel meat and camel milk are nutritious products that can continue to be consumed after pasteurization, cooking, or other heat treatments.
- Until more is understood about MERS-CoV, people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from MERS-CoVinfection. These people should avoid contact with camels, drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked.
- WHO does not recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions or entry screening related to MERS-CoV.
No comments:
Post a Comment