Middle East Respiratory Virus (MERS), a new disease now becoming more common in Saudi Arabia, has just reached the United States for the first time. So far, one-third of the people diagnosed with the virus have died from symptoms of MERS.
An American healthcare worker who traveled to the Saudi kingdom returned home with the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced. The sickened individual left the Saudi capital of Riyadh on British Airways flight 24 and flew to London. From there, the healthcare worker changed planes and headed to Chicago. The afflicted man then took a bus to Indiana.
On 27 April, the man experienced a fever with coughing and shortness of breath. The unidentified subject visited a community hospital in Munster, Indiana, where he was admitted for treatment. After learning about his recent trip to the Middle East, healthcare workers tested him for MERS. Samples were also sent to the CDC, where officials confirmed the positive diagnosis.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), was first diagnosed in China during 2002, leading to the deaths of around 800 people. The new virus responsible for MERS causes symptoms similar to SARS, but is more than three times as deadly.
"It is understandable that some may be concerned about this situation, but this first U.S. case of MERS-CoV infection represents a very low risk to the general public," Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of CDC's National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, said.
Little is known so far about MERS or how it is transmitted. In areas where the virus has been seen, transmission appears to occur between people who have been in close contact with one another such as family members. It has also been known to spread to healthcare providers tending aftected patients.
At the turn of the 20th century, Mary Mallon was a cook in New York City. Soon, people around her began to fall ill with typhoid fever,and several died. She was soon identified as a carrier of the disease although she did not suffer any symptoms. Within a few years, many people around the cook became ill and Mallon earned the nickname Typhoid Mary.
"So far, including this U.S. importation, there have been 401 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection in 12 countries. To date, all reported cases have originated in six countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Most of these people developed severe acute respiratory illness, with fever, cough, and shortness of breath; 93 people died," the CDC reported.
There is no known vaccine or treatment for the ailment.
