Severe respiratory infection from a virus
In September 2012, a new virus was identified in Saudi Arabia: MERS. It causes respiratory infections and can lead to very serious respiratory complaints. What exactly is MERS?
1. What is MERS and what are the symptoms?
MERS stands for Middle East respiratory syndrome. The internationally used name for the virus is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It is named after the Middle East, the region where it was discovered.
MERS belongs to the coronaviruses, a group of viruses that can cause respiratory infections. Some coronaviruses just give you a common cold, but others lead to bigger problems. For example, the life-threatening SARS is also a coronavirus.
The MERS virus causes respiratory infections that can be serious. Patients suffer from severe respiratory symptoms, cough, fever, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, sometimes with a fatal outcome.
2. Where does it occur?
Nearly all patients have contracted the MERS virus in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has the highest number of cases.
Cases of MERS have also been reported in the United States and a number of European, North African and Asian countries. However, they are already infected in the Middle East. There have been no infections with MERS in the Netherlands yet.
3. How do you get MERS?
Because MERS is such a ‘new’ virus, little is known about how it spreads. Usually, just like the flu, coronaviruses are transmitted by coughing or sneezing, but the question is how you contract the MERS virus.
The risk of people infecting each other appears to be very limited. A small number of patients are likely to have acquired the virus from someone else. Outside the body, the virus only survives for one day and it is easily destroyed with common detergents and cleaning agents. Animals such as camels and dromedaries are probably the source of infection and may play a role in the spread of MERS.
So far, two cases of MERS have been identified in the Netherlands. Both patients contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia.
4. Can you travel to the Middle East?
Yes, there is no adapted travel advice for the countries where the MERS virus occurs. For travelers, the chance that they will become infected with MERS is small. Because it is not clear how exactly you contract MERS, it is advisable to observe general hygiene measures in the Middle East and to avoid animals.
Which means:
- Wash hands often with soap and water.
- Avoid contact with animals and their waste products.
- Hygienic handling of food: heat food well, peel or wash vegetables and fruit with boiled or bottled water, avoid unpasteurized (camel) milk, only drink bottled water.
5. What can you do about it?
A vaccine against MERS is not yet available. There is also no specific treatment, only the symptoms can be treated.
Coming back from the Middle East and experiencing respiratory problems within two weeks? Then there is a good chance that you just have a cold. If you have a high fever and serious breathing problems, contact your doctor to be sure and tell them that you have been to the Middle East.
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