What is MERS?

Since 21st of May 2105, the Republic of Korea has been investigating an outbreak of MERS. It is the largest known outbreak of MERS outside the Middle East.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness that is new tohumans. It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to several other countries, including the United States. Most people infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Many of them have died.

Since May 2105, 87 people in South Korea have been infected, 7 people died, and more than 2,000 are under quarantine or observation, uncluding the first teenager to be infected with the virus. Seoul`s mayor has declared "war" on MERS.

MERS-CoV, like other coronaviruses, is thought to spread from an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as through coughing. However, the precise ways the virus spreads are not currently well understood.

 If you develop fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, you should call ahead to a healthcare provider for an evaluation. Your healthcare provider may request laboratory testing and outline additional recommendations, depending on the findings of your evaluation and whether you have symptoms. You most likely will be asked to monitor your health for 14 days, starting from the day you were last exposed to the ill person.

Watch for these symptoms:

- Fever. Take your temperature twice a day
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Other early symptoms to watch for are chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and runny nose

If you develop symptoms, call ahead to your healthcare provider as soon as possible and tell him or her about your possible exposure to MERS-CoV, so the office can take steps to keep other people from getting
infected. Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department.


 http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/risk.html
 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-08/south-korea-reports-sixth-death-from-mers-
 http://www.vox.com/2015/6/5/8735037/what-is-mers-virus