What is MERS Virus? Signs, Symptoms and Treatment; How to Prevent It? Prevention

The MERS virus
The deadly virus has attacked two people in the US so far this year. How can we prevent it from spreading? www.healthydebates.com

Another patient has turned up at an American hospital with the lethal respiratory virus MERS, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today.  All the passengers on the U.S. legs of the patient's journey are being notified today to look for possible symptoms of the virus, though the risk of transmission is considered very slight, ABC News reports.

The virus, which has a very high mortality rate, was first identified in people in 2012 but has been spreading rapidly since March. To date, there have been 538 lab-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV worldwide, including 145 deaths attributed to it; the vast majority of those cases occurred in Saudi Arabia, CDC officials said.

While this is only the second case of MERS reported in the US this year, Tim Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is issuing warnings for the disease "in an abundance of caution."

So what exactly is MERS, and how can it be prevented from spreading?

Wayne Marasco, an immunologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, said his biggest concern about MERS-CoV is how little we know about it.

However, experts do know that the virus is formally called MERS-CoV because it's part of the coronavirus family that includes the common cold and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease is believed to be connected to exposure to camels--and many camels in Saudi Arabia are believed to be infected. 

Determining how the disease jumped to humans would require extensive case control studies, which have not been done yet in Saudi Arabia, says David L. Heymann, an epidemiologist and professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

However, once a human contracts the disease, they are able to easily spread it through close personal contact with other humans. Infected patients may experience flu-like symptoms with signs of pneumonia. But not all infected people have symptoms, i.e. some individuals may be infected with MERS-CoV and do not get ill.

The real concern now is that the virus will mutate to become even more easily transmitted from one person to another, Marasco said.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO (World Health Organization), there are no specific treatments for patients who become ill with MERS-CoV infection.

However, experts say the disease is preventable-if people use proper precautions. The CDC website says that people who travel often or work in healthcare should be particularly cautious.

Preventative measures to avoid contracting MERS include regular hand sanitizing after exposure to highly populated areas including public restrooms, airports, and restaurants. Experts recommend the use of facial masks if visiting hospitals or other facilities with high exposure to diseases.

Marasco says that while the CDC has been reacting reasonably, he believes people should be concerned but not overreact to the virus.

"I'm not very anxious about it, though I would not at all be surprised if we continued to see cases," Marasco told ABC news.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.