How Do I Protect Myself From MERS-CoV?

With the threat of MERS-CoV in countries in Asia, affecting and taking the lives of many individuals, citizens are getting really scared and concerned of their health. One of the many questions they ask is

How do I protect myself from MERS-CoV?

We are here to give you information as to how you can avoid the disease but first let us provide more details about the illness, it's causes, symptoms and if there's any treatment.

What is MERS-Cov?

medicalnewstoday.com

Definition: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus
Other terms: EMC/2012 (HCoV-EMC/2012) / novel coronavirus 2012 / novel coronavirus

Causes of MERS-CoV

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It is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus — the same family of viruses that causes the common cold (Mayo Clinic)

"There are many kinds of coronavirus, some of which cause the common cold. The MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was a new variant" [source]

HOW and WHEN did it start?

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The first case of MERS-CoV victim was in Saudi Arabia in April 2012 after many fell ill because of an unknown flu. It eventually became an outbreak and has since spread in countries across the Middle East also affecting people in Asia, United States and Europe.

Evolution of MERS-CoV

Fruit bat

Researchers claims that bats in Saudi Arabia are hosts to a number of coronaviruses thus, MERS-CoV most likely originated in these creatures and was then transmitted to humans.

Others also found it in camels in Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Symptoms of MERS-CoV

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Cough
Difficulty in breathing / Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Inability to maintain oxygenation (hypoxia)
High fever (over 38°C or 100.4°F))
Diarrhea
Kidney failure
Inflammation of the heart sac (pericarditis) or severe systemic bleeding from disruption of the clotting system
Chills
Chest pain
Body aches
Sore throat
Malaise (general feeling of being unwell)
Headache
Nausea/Vomiting
Runny nose
Pneumonia

MERS-CoV vs SARS

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Although many refer MERS-CoV to SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) which is also a corona virus, MERS-CoV is distinct from the latter:

MERS-CoV

Nosocomial infections of MERS occur early within the FIRST WEEK of illness of the index case [source]
Cases where mostly seen in people older than 50 years with comorbidities
Progresses to respiratory failure much more rapidly than SARS [source]
Affected mostly men

SARS

Infections occur mainly in the SECOND WEEK of illness when the patient's upper airway viral load peaks on day 10 of illness [source]
In the SARS outbreak, the cases were primarily seen in young healthy individuals [source]
Affected males and females equally [source]

How is it transmitted?

genengnews.com

MERS-CoV is spread from one person to another through respiratory droplet secretion, like Guitar Center, martin d18
It often infected people who come in close contact or cared for another MERS-CoV patient
Other sources may be through infected body fluids, respiratory secretions, raw or undercooked meat, and unpasteurized dairy products of camels [source]