SARS used to be a big deal before it was contained. Now a new virus, MERS-CoV, has taken center stage.
The virus, found mainly in the Middle East (particularly Saudi Arabia) and a few cases in Europe (United Kingdom, France, and Italy), is luckily not yet a threat to the U.S., despite returning American troops and other travelers.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS- CoV) is being compared to Severe Acute Respiratory Syn- drome (SARS) due to its symp- toms and severity, but unlike SARS, MERS currently has no treatment.
"There are two reasons peo- ple are nervous about this virus," said George Crawford, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease at the UT Health Science Center San An- tonio. "There is no treatment, and there is a high mortality rate."
According to the Atlanta- based Centers for Disease Con- trol, out of 68 reported cases, 38 have ended in death.
It is also uncertain where ex- actly the origin of the disease.
"SARS was a Coronavirus that came from bats," Craw- ford said. "[MERS] must be coming from some animal reservoir."
MERS may possibly come from bats, but there have also been claims of people being ex- posed to camels shortly before infection, Crawford added.
As of this month, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S.
"I am not aware of any cases that have occurred in U.S. troops," Crawford said. "Most cases are in Saudi Arabia where the majority of our troops are not stationed."
There is more of a concern for business travelers and those returning from vaca- tion in infected areas, Craw- ford explained. Even perfectly healthy people may contract the disease.
A new virus is spreading in the Middle East and parts of Europe, but is not yet the US radar. (Courtesyphoto)
By Julia Ermlich