MERS: The Next Global Epidemic?

           The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS virus, made headlines as a formidable public health threat in 2003. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the SARS virus was initially discovered in Asia when several individuals were experiencing severe cases of pneumonia. Unfortunately, this illness was observed to be highly contagious, and it was later attributed to a new viral strain that was subsequently called SARS. This virus spread across four continents and killed 775 people until it was contained several months later. Since the SARS outbreak, public health officials and scientists have worked tirelessly to prevent another viral outbreak.

           These efforts have now been put to the test. A SARS-like virus was identified in late 2012 when a Qatari man exhibited severe respiratory illness in an English hospital. This virus noticeably affected many individuals in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, leading to its name "Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome," or MERS, virus. Many comparisons have been drawn between MERS and SARS, mainly due to the similarities in symptoms. However, scientists studying MERS have noticed that it does not spread as easily as SARS because it has not resulted in as many cases. This may be due to a reduced ability of the virus to spread from human to human, but the virus is known to infect humans through animal contact since camels have been characterized as the main vehicle for MERS in the Arabian Peninsula. Scientists studying the genetic makeup of MERS have not been able to detect significant genetic changes that would shed light on the increasing number of MERS cases, but they are hoping that increasing awareness will drive individuals to become more cognizant of possible sources of infection.

             Due to the sharp increase in cases, the general public does not know whether MERS should be raising alarms. Because this virus is contagious, people should adhere to stringent hygienic practices. Simple efforts like covering the face after a sneeze, hand washing, and taking a sick day may curb the spread of viruses such as MERS. At this point in time, an effective vaccine cannot be developed due to the MERS virus belonging to the coronavirus family, a notoriously difficult virus subtype to target. Furthermore, we will have to rely on old-fashioned sanitary measures to protect ourselves and others from another potentially devastating virus.
           

The recent series of MERS infections closely resemble those of 2003's SARS virus.
Courtesy: Reuters