What is MERS?
MERS stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It’s a viral respiratory disease that is caused by coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the same virus which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), among other diseases. It affects the lungs and breathing tubes. Even though MERS and SARS are similar in terms of their cause and some symptoms, patients with MERS have a higher fatality rate as they are more likely to have been burdened with pre-existing illnesses.
Where is MERS occurring?
Since it was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, the case has been reported in 24 other countries, including Malaysia.
On 14 April 2014, the first case of MERS-CoV was confirmed in Malaysia in a man in his mid-fifties, after returning from a pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The case succumbed to his illness three days after admission at a local hospital.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms are high fever that goes over 38° Celcius as well as respiratory problems such as cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. Some patients may have gastrointestinal problems such diarrhea and vomiting.
For the more serious cases, patients may also experience organ failure, especially the kidneys. On an opposite note, there are also cases where patients may be infected with the virus but show no symptoms at all.
How is it transmitted?
MERS is a highly contagious disease. It’s transmittable through close contact, such as providing clinical care for a patient with MERS without applying strict hygiene measures. A majority of the cases has been happening in health care settings, but it can also happen between patients and family members.
Should parents worry about MERS?
Even though Saudi officials have released a statement saying that children are less prone to MERS, there’s a medical research that proves otherwise. Even though cases may be slightly rare for children, it’s not entirely impossible for them to contract the virus.
“Children too can be infected by MERS virus, through family members” says Dr. Lim Chin Theam, a paeditrician from UM Specialist Centre. “They get the virus via contact or droplets.”
What is the Malaysian Government doing about MERS?
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya told reporters that Malaysia is taking appropriate measures to ensure that the virus would not spread in the country.
“The ministry is also working with airport operators to conduct health screening using thermal cameras to monitor the temperature of each passenger entering and leaving the country,” he said.
How can you protect your family?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:
- Washing your hands with soap or hand sanitiser
- Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoiding personal contact, such as kissing, or sharing cups or eating utensils, with sick people.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
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Text by Dhabitah Zainal.
