preview

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Decent Essays

MERS-CoV is a respiratory disease that was first found in Saudi Arabia in 2012. This virus can cause people to get diseases such as the common cold to a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). MERS-CoV cases have been found in a few countries throughout the world, but mostly have been found in Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Countries other than the Middle East have had MERS-CoV cases such as Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Reasons for the spread of the disease is believe to be caused by tourist or relatives traveling to and from the Middle East. Respiratory symptoms of this virus can be fever, cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. Patients can also have gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea. If the patient becomes severely ill, they may have a respiratory failure and would be placed on a respirator or a ventilator. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) website, "Approximately 27% of patients with MERS have died." The organization also claims that the virus causes a severer disease in the elderly, people with a weak immune system, and people that may gave a chronic disease. Countries of the world do not understand specifically how people become infected with MERS-CoV, but it is believed that the virus can be passed from person to person when they are in close contact with each other, but WHO claims the virus does not easily transmit from person

Get Access