Are you worried about the MERS Virus? Get the facts first…

You may have seen some pretty scary headlines in recent days relating to a new virus that has the medical community on alert. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness that can be passed between people in close contact. The condition was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, and so far most of those who have been infected have been from that region of the world.   People with MERS develop severe acute respiratory illness, presenting symptoms like fever, coughing and shortness of breath. About half of the 81 reported cases— mostly older men with pre-existing health conditions—have died. However, other cases have been reported where the patient experienced just mild respiratory illness.   While MERS is not the same as the SARS virus, it has similar attributes, including how it is transmitted. Since its discovery, doctors have seen transmission from people in close contact to each other, including patients infecting health-care workers. Clusters of cases in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the U.K., France, Tunisia and Italy all have been reported and are being closely watched by the World Health Organization (WHO).   In fact, the WHO was so concerned about the potential problems the MERS could pose, the organization called an emergency meeting—the first emergency meeting it has held in four years—to discuss what, if any, threat the virus could present to the international community. (As of now, the WHO reports that the virus is not a public heal...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: All posts Source Type: news