Difference between revisions of "MERS"
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|abbreviation=MERS | |abbreviation=MERS | ||
|constitutes=disease, biological weapon? | |constitutes=disease, biological weapon? | ||
| + | |description=Reportedly very deadly coronavirus, known since 2012 without evidence of spread outside hospitals. | ||
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'''Middle East respiratory syndrome''' ('''MERS'''), also known as '''camel flu''', is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV).<ref>''[https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-(mers-cov) "Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)"]''</ref> | '''Middle East respiratory syndrome''' ('''MERS'''), also known as '''camel flu''', is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV).<ref>''[https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-(mers-cov) "Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)"]''</ref> | ||
==Official narrative== | ==Official narrative== | ||
| − | Symptoms may range from mild to | + | Symptoms may range from mild to deadly. They include fever, cough, diarrhea and shortness of breath. Disease is typically more severe in those with other health problems. Mortality is about one-third of diagnosed cases. |
MERS-CoV is a betacoronavirus derived from bats. Camels have been shown to have antibodies to MERS-CoV but the exact source of infection in camels has not been identified. Camels are believed to be involved in its spread to humans but it is unclear how. Spread between humans typically requires close contact with an infected person. Its spread is uncommon outside of hospitals. Thus, its risk to the global population is currently deemed to be fairly low.<ref>''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402954/ "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Another Zoonotic Betacoronavirus Causing SARS-Like Disease"]''</ref> | MERS-CoV is a betacoronavirus derived from bats. Camels have been shown to have antibodies to MERS-CoV but the exact source of infection in camels has not been identified. Camels are believed to be involved in its spread to humans but it is unclear how. Spread between humans typically requires close contact with an infected person. Its spread is uncommon outside of hospitals. Thus, its risk to the global population is currently deemed to be fairly low.<ref>''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402954/ "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Another Zoonotic Betacoronavirus Causing SARS-Like Disease"]''</ref> | ||
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As of 2020 there is no specific vaccine or treatment for the disease; a number of antiviral medications were being studied. The [[World Health Organization]] recommends that those who come in contact with camels wash their hands frequently and do not touch sick camels and that camel-based food products be appropriately cooked. Treatments that help with the symptoms may be given to those infected. | As of 2020 there is no specific vaccine or treatment for the disease; a number of antiviral medications were being studied. The [[World Health Organization]] recommends that those who come in contact with camels wash their hands frequently and do not touch sick camels and that camel-based food products be appropriately cooked. Treatments that help with the symptoms may be given to those infected. | ||
| − | Just under 2000 cases had been reported as of 4 April 2017. About 36% of those | + | Just under 2000 cases had been reported as of 4 April 2017. About 36% of those diagnosed with the disease die from it. The overall risk of death may be lower as those with mild symptoms may be undiagnosed. The first identified case occurred in 2012 in [[Saudi Arabia]] and most cases have occurred in the Arabian Peninsula. A strain of MERS-CoV known as HCoV-EMC/2012 found in the first infected person in [[London]] in 2012 was found to have a 100% match to [[Egypt]]ian tomb bats. A large outbreak occurred in [[South Korea]] in 2015. A further outbreak of MERS was reported in 2018, affecting [[Saudi Arabia]] and other countries (including [[South Korea]]) to which infected persons travelled, but from the years 2015–18, the number infected in [[Saudi Arabia]] in 2018 was the lowest.<ref>''[http://www.emro.who.int/pandemic-epidemic-diseases/news/infectious-disease-outbreaks-reported-in-the-eastern-mediterranean-region-in-2018.html "Infectious disease outbreaks reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2018"]''</ref> |
==PCR "test"== | ==PCR "test"== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:14, 28 September 2024
 MERS  (disease, biological weapon?)   | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | MERS |
| Reportedly very deadly coronavirus, known since 2012 without evidence of spread outside hospitals. | |
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), also known as camel flu, is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV).[1]
Official narrative
Symptoms may range from mild to deadly. They include fever, cough, diarrhea and shortness of breath. Disease is typically more severe in those with other health problems. Mortality is about one-third of diagnosed cases.
MERS-CoV is a betacoronavirus derived from bats. Camels have been shown to have antibodies to MERS-CoV but the exact source of infection in camels has not been identified. Camels are believed to be involved in its spread to humans but it is unclear how. Spread between humans typically requires close contact with an infected person. Its spread is uncommon outside of hospitals. Thus, its risk to the global population is currently deemed to be fairly low.[2]
As of 2020 there is no specific vaccine or treatment for the disease; a number of antiviral medications were being studied. The World Health Organization recommends that those who come in contact with camels wash their hands frequently and do not touch sick camels and that camel-based food products be appropriately cooked. Treatments that help with the symptoms may be given to those infected.
Just under 2000 cases had been reported as of 4 April 2017. About 36% of those diagnosed with the disease die from it. The overall risk of death may be lower as those with mild symptoms may be undiagnosed. The first identified case occurred in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and most cases have occurred in the Arabian Peninsula. A strain of MERS-CoV known as HCoV-EMC/2012 found in the first infected person in London in 2012 was found to have a 100% match to Egyptian tomb bats. A large outbreak occurred in South Korea in 2015. A further outbreak of MERS was reported in 2018, affecting Saudi Arabia and other countries (including South Korea) to which infected persons travelled, but from the years 2015–18, the number infected in Saudi Arabia in 2018 was the lowest.[3]
PCR "test"
“the method is so sensitive it can identify a single genetic molecule. If such a pathogen for example were to be found lying dormant in a nurse all day in the mucous membrane of her nose, she would be identified as a MERS case without being ill, or even being aware of it. Where previously only critically ill patients were recorded in the statistics, those with very mild symptoms and even completely healthy people were now included. This what explains the surge in cases in Saudi Arabia. This is further exacerbated by the sensational reporting of the local media.”
Christian Drosten (2014) [4]
References
- ↑ "Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)"
- ↑ "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Another Zoonotic Betacoronavirus Causing SARS-Like Disease"
- ↑ "Infectious disease outbreaks reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2018"
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20201119135446/https://www.wiwo.de/technologie/forschung/virologe-drosten-im-gespraech-2014-der-koerper-wirdstaendig-von-viren-angegriffen/9903228-all.html
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