Symptoms
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) manifests as a respiratory illness with flu-like symptoms such as:
- Fever, chills
- Cough, sore throat
- Muscle and joint pain
- Shortness of breath
- Digestive problems such as nausea and diarrhea
The disease can lead to severe pneumonia, ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), septic shock, renal failure and multi-organ failure. It is life-threatening and has a high mortality.
Causes
It is a viral infectious disease caused by the MERS virus (MERS-CoV), an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus of the coronavirus family that was first described in 2012 in a patient in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The same family also includes the SARS virus, which causes similar symptoms, as well as 2019-nCoV, which first appeared in China in December 2019. Other MERS cases have been reported primarily from the Middle East (Arabian Peninsula). In 2015, a major outbreak occurred in South Korea. The virus can be passed from person to person through close contact. It originates from bats and is transmitted to humans via an intermediate host (e.g., dromedaries).
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made in medical treatment with laboratory methods (e.g., RT-PCR).
Prevention
Hygienic measures are recommended for prevention:
- Wash hands regularly with soap and water or treat with a disinfectant.
- When coughing or sneezing, cover the nose and mouth with a paper tissue and dispose of it afterwards.
- Do not touch the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces.
Treatment
No specific antiviral drugs exist yet. Various drugs are being investigated (e.g., antibodies, remdesivir). Treatment is symptomatic with intensive medical care.
