A 28-year-old man tested positive for the potentially deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in an Abu Dhabi city bordering Oman, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Monday.
The young man, from the city of Al Ain, was admitted to the hospital last month, the WHO reported in a statement. According to the Reuters agency , it was also reported that 108 people with whom the patient was in contact were examined, but so far no secondary infection has been detected.
The WHO said there was no indication that the person had been in contact with dromedary camels , which spread the disease, other than COVID-19. However, he did not give more details about his current status.
Cases of MERS-CoV - which can cause fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and in some cases can lead to pneumonia - have been recorded in 27 countries since 2012, according to WHO figures. In that period , 2,605 cases and 936 associated deaths have been reported, according to the data.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a nerve center for international events, will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November and December.
Information from the CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):
What is MERS?
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease. It is caused by a virus called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus or MERS-CoV. This virus was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. It is different from any other coronavirus that has been found in people before.
What is the source of MERS-CoV?
MERS-CoV likely came from an animal source in the Arabian Peninsula. In addition to humans, MERS-CoV has been found in camels in several countries. Some people may have become infected after coming into contact with camels. However, more information is needed to determine the possible role that camels and other animals may play in MERS-CoV transmission.
What are the symptoms and complications that MERS can cause ?
Most people with confirmed MERS-CoV infection have had severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of:
• fever
• cough
• difficulty breathing
About 3 to 4 in 10 people reported with MERS have died. Most of the people who died had an underlying medical condition. Some infected people had mild symptoms (such as cold-like symptoms) or no symptoms.
How does the virus spread?
MERS-CoV, like other coronaviruses, is thought to spread from the respiratory secretions of an infected person, for example through coughing. However, the precise ways in which the virus spreads are currently not well understood. MERS-CoV has spread from sick people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. Infected people have spread MERS-CoV to others in healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
Key points
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a novel lethal zoonotic disease of humans endemic to the Middle East, caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Humans are thought to acquire MERS-CoV through contact with camels or camel products.
MERS carries a mortality rate of 35%. There is no specific treatment for MERS. Person-to-person spread causes hospital and household outbreaks of MERS-CoV.
Millions of visitors travel to Saudi Arabia each year from all over the world, so vigilant surveillance and a high degree of clinical awareness and early diagnosis with rapid implementation of infection control measures in returning travelers is important.
Clinical features
The symptoms, signs, laboratory and imaging abnormalities associated with MERS-CoV infection are not specific to MERS and are like other respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The clinical manifestations of MERS-CoV infections range from asymptomatic infection to mild, moderate, and severe disease, often complicated by severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and multiple organ failure.
The incubation period is 2 to 14 days. Mild cases may have low-grade fever, chills, runny nose, dry cough, sore throat, and myalgia. Some patients have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Fever may be absent in up to 15% of hospitalized cases.
Laboratory abnormalities include cytopenias and elevated transaminases. Coinfections with other respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens have been reported. Up to half of MERS cases may have acute kidney injury and a third of very ill patients have gastrointestinal symptoms.
Source : Thee Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) . Esam I. Azhar, et al. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. Volume 33, Issue 4, December 2019, Pages 891-905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2019.08.001
