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The MERS’s full form, known as the ‘Middle East respiratory syndrome’, is an infectious respiratory disease brought on by a new coronavirus called MERS-CoV. It was initially discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2012, the reason MERS’ full form got its name.
Fever, coughing, shortness, and shortness of breath are common MERS symptoms, and pneumonia is not always present. There have also been reports of digestive issues, such as diarrhoea. Some cases of MERS-CoV infection are classified as asymptomatic, meaning they don’t exhibit clinical signs. Following extensive contact tracing of a laboratory-confirmed case, most of these asymptomatic cases have been found.
About 35% of patients with MERS-CoV infection have been reported to have passed away.
MERS Symptoms
There are quite some symptoms that can be noticed in the Middle East respiratory syndrome. The most common MERS symptoms that are experienced in infected people are
- fever and chill,
- breathing problems and
- a cough.
People might also experience problems like
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Other gastrointestinal problems
Cases of organ failure have been found in people infected with MERS. Kidney failure and pneumonia are common. The symptoms are generally experienced in people infected by Middle East respiratory syndrome 5-6 days later. Some might not notice anything or experience symptoms after getting infected. All medical treatment and ventilation must keep these patients isolated in the hospital.
Causes of MERS-CoV
Some researchers found the main cause of the Middle East respiratory syndrome is the transmission from animals to humans. This disease arose from animals, but the virus origin has not been fully understood. Research says that it was found in bats and then transmitted to camels.
Transmission of MERS-CoV
Transmission of the MERS-CoV initially started from the animals, and it is said to have begun from the bats, which eventually got transmitted to camels and then further to the humans. It is seen that MERS-CoV won’t cause harm to people unless they come in close contact with the transmitted or infected people or animals.
Risk factor
People get infected generally when they come in close contact with the transmitted human or animals. But in general, these people are the most at risk of getting infected by Middle East respiratory syndrome:
- Older adults as their immune systems are not as strong as young ones
- Sick people or people with health issues like kidney disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes
People with weak immune systems are more prone to getting infected with this virus as researchers have found that the immune system prevents us from getting transmitted, so the stronger the immune system, the safer the person will be. The reports say that the people who have died before with Middle East respiratory syndrome all had health problems.
Prevention
Middle East respiratory syndrome can be contagious; therefore, some prevention is needed to reduce the problem of MERS-CoV.
The first prevention is not getting too close or contacting the ones who have transmitted the disease. These are more measures and prevention you can consider to prevent yourself from Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS):
- Wearing the mask every time you go out
- Frequently wash your hands with hand wash at least for 20 seconds
- Washing fruits and vegetables before cooking it eating them
- Avoid consuming undercooked meat or any kind of food materials
- Avoid eating unhygienic food or consuming an unclean drink
- Sneezing into a sleeve or a tissue
- Take vitamin or doctor-prescribed medicine to increase the immune system.
- Immediately report it to the hospital if any suspected cases found
- Take immediate medical treatment if you experience any kind of syndrome and signs of Middle East respiratory syndrome.
No specific treatment is done for MERS as no vaccination has been discovered, but good healthcare professionals and treatment can treat the transmitted people. People with severe MERS symptoms are treated with oxygen therapy, good care in the hospital, and a mechanical ventilator to prevent them.
Health facilities
Transmission of the virus had occurred in healthcare facilities in several countries, including patients to healthcare providers and between patients in a healthcare setting before MERS-CoV was diagnosed. Identifying patients with MERS-CoV early or without testing is not always possible because MERS’ symptoms and other clinical features may be non‐specific.
Conclusion
Middle East respiratory syndrome is a severe illness that causes problems in the respiratory system and trouble breathing. It is caused by MERS-CoV coronavirus, a coronavirus. Doctors advise strengthening the immune system by consuming vitamins and nutrients. Many organisations are working to monitor the prevalence of MERS and develop treatment practices and vaccines.
