MERS Coronavirus

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first

reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and has since caused illness in people in more
than 25 other countries, including the United States. Most people reported to
have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness, including
fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Many of them have died.

Coronaviruses are common in many different species of animals, including camels

and bats. Rarely, these same coronaviruses can infect and spread between
humans. Recent examples of this include SARS coronavirus and MERS
coronavirus.

Most coronaviruses infect animals, but not people. In the future, one or more of
these other coronaviruses could potentially spread to humans, as has happened
in the past. We still don’t understand why only certain coronaviruses are able to
infect people.

Common Human Coronaviruses

Common human coronaviruses, including types 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1,
usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common
cold. Most people get infected with these viruses at some point in their lives.
These illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time. Symptoms may
include

 runny nose
 headache
  cough
 sore throat
 fever
 a general feeling of being unwell

Coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as

pneumonia or bronchitis. This is more common in people with cardiopulmonary
disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults.

Other Human Coronaviruses

Two other coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to
frequently cause severe symptoms. MERS symptoms usually include fever, cough,
and shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia or kidney failure;
many people with MERS have died. SARS symptoms often included fever, chills,
and body aches which usually progressed to pneumonia. No human cases of
SARS have been reported anywhere in the world since 2004. Sporadic MERS cases
continue to occur, primarily in the Arabian Peninsula.

Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider may order laboratory tests on respiratory specimens
and serum (part of your blood) to detect human coronavirus. This is especially
likely if you have severe disease or are suspected of having MERS.

You should always tell your healthcare provider if you have recently travelled or
had contact with animals. Most MERS-CoV infections have been reported from
countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore reporting a travel history or contact
with camels is very important when trying to diagnose MERS.

Symptoms & Complications

Most people confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection have had severe acute
respiratory illness with symptoms of:

 fever
 cough
 shortness of breath
Some people also had gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea and
nausea/vomiting. For many people with MERS, more severe complications
followed, such as pneumonia and kidney failure. About 3 to 4 out of every 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 at all; they recovered.

Based on what researchers know so far, people with pre-existing medical

conditions may be more likely to become infected with MERS-CoV or have a
severe case. Pre-existing conditions from reported cases for which we have
information have included diabetes; cancer; and chronic lung, heart, and kidney
disease. Individuals with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk for
getting MERS or having a severe case.

An incubation period is the time between when a person comes in contact with a
germ and when they start to have symptoms. Based on information we have to
date, the incubation period for MERS is usually about 5 or 6 days but can range
from 2 to 14 days

Prevention & Treatment

Prevention
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent MERS-CoV infection. The U.S. National
Institutes of Health is exploring the possibility of developing one.

CDC routinely advises that people help protect themselves from respiratory
illnesses by taking everyday preventive actions:

 Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help
young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
 Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then
throw the tissue in the trash.
 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
 Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, or sharing cups or eating utensils,
with sick people.
  Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as
doorknobs.

Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for MERS-CoV infection.
Individuals with MERS often receive medical care to help relieve symptoms. For
severe cases, current treatment includes care to support vital organ functions.

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