Camels cause Middle East respiratory distress syndrome

MERS virus causing Middle East respiratory distress syndrome (similar to dangerous SARS virus) has just been found in camels, after a 44-year-old man from Saudi Arabia died of infection.

The man kept 9 camels short of illness before being infected and had to be hospitalized for treatment with fever, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. He died two weeks later.

Photo: Businessinsider

The analysis of virus samples taken from both camels and patients showed that the "complete genome sequence of the two virus strains is identical" . This fatal case was concluded due to close contact with infected camels.

Jonathan Ball, a virology professor at the University of Nottingham, said: "All evidence indicates camels are the culprit. This is probably the first time the virus sequence has been identified and shows that this is a case. This study once again strengthens the assertion that camels are a direct source of disease in humans . "

However, experts also warn, scientists should not stop looking for other potential animal sources or investigate cases of human-to-human transmission to further strengthen the ability to prevent disease.

Respiratory syndrome due to Middle East coronavirus (MERS) is thought to be closely related to the SARS syndrome that once killed hundreds of people around the world. Symptoms of MERS are similar to influenza, including: cough, fever, shortness of breath, body aches and diarrhea.

To date, 691 cases of respiratory syndrome have been caused by Middle Eastern coronavirus, causing 284 deaths since the virus was first discovered in June 2012.