MERS rears its ugly head in Oman

Three instances of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), a coronavirus that is more lethal than covid-19 but less communicable, have been verified by the WHO.

 The WHO reported finding two cases in Qatar in mid-March. Another case had surfaced in Oman in mid-April.

The two MERS cases recorded in Qatar, one of which resulted in the death of a patient, both involved intimate contact with camels as well as the ingestion of camel's raw milk in the 14 days before to the beginning of symptoms.

MERS has killed seven people in Qatar since 2012, including two new cases confirmed this week.

According to the Oman instance, the infected individual had a propensity of close interaction with animals such as camels, sheep, and goats before becoming ill.

Oman has recorded a number of 25  infections of MERS and seven fatalities to the WHO since June 2013.

What exactly is MERS?

A coronavirus is the cause of MERS, a respiratory viral illness.

In September 2012, it was discovered in Saudi Arabia.

Direct contact or inhalation or aerosols are two ways in which MERS can be spread from one person to another. However, epidemiological studies show that the most common source of infection is from animals.

MERS mostly infects camels, particularly dromedary camels.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 2,587 cases along with 891 fatalities worldwide.

Vaccines and other treatments are being developed, but none are accessible just yet.

The patient's clinical state is taken into account while deciding on the best course of action.

Are there signs and symptoms?

After being exposed to the virus, MERS symptoms generally occur five to six days later, although they might appear as late as fourteen days later.

• Asthma Cough.
• Inability to take a deep breath.
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting and nausea
• Patients may suffer pneumonia and renal failure in some of the most severe situations.