Deadly respiratory syndrome like SARS spreads rapidly

More than 400 cases were reported to be infected with MERS Middle East respiratory syndrome, thought to be related to SARS.

On May 2, respiratory syndrome caused by Middle East coronavirus (MERS) was first recorded in the United States. The patient worked in the medical industry, showing symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath after moving from Saudi Arabia to the United States.

Currently the patient is isolated for treatment in the state of Indiana. The US medical community is trying to contact to determine if other people exposed to this patient are infected.

A series of new infections recorded in the Middle East in recent weeks has raised great concern.(Artwork: gannett-cdn)

The first case of MERS infection in the United States and a series of new infections recorded in the Middle East in recent weeks has raised great concern.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since MERS started in September 2012, there have been more than 400 cases in 12 countries, killing more than 100 people, mostly in Saudi Arabia. The majority of infected people in European countries come from the Middle East. The disease was relatively stable in the previous months but recently suddenly increased again.

MERS is a respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus, thought to be closely related to SARS syndrome, killing hundreds of people around the world a decade ago. MERS symptoms are similar to the flu, including cough, fever, shortness of breath, body aches and diarrhea.

There are currently no treatments or vaccines available for MERS. The source of the disease has not been clearly defined. According to some studies, this virus does not cause direct illness but can hide and survive in camels. However, a recent report from the World Health Organization said that 75% of new cases do not have contact with camels before.