How are MERS-CoV and SARS different?

Considered a descendant of SARS, MERS - CoV disease is fundamentally different from the SARS epidemic that occurred 12 years ago.

How is MERS- CoV different from SARS?

Earlier, British and Saudi scientists studied the progression of the disease in 47 patients with MERS, scientists found that the symptoms of MERS were similar to those of SARS. fever, cough, shortness of breath and a small number of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Both diseases have the same incubation period.

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However, MERS patients have respiratory symptoms five days earlier than SARS patients . MERS infects mainly in the elderly, men and people suffering from other diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease, while SARS is mainly infected among healthy young people.

MERS-CoV can be derived from bats and then transmitted to camels , then camels become the main virus reservoir to spread primary disease to humans. The disease is likely to spread from person to person, mainly through direct contact with respiratory secretions among people who have close contact with patients. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 days.

Patients with mild symptoms such as fever, worsening cough such as dyspnea, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure may also be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and can cause organ failure, especially kidney failure, high risk of death; Mortality / incidence rate from 35% - 40%. Some people infected with MERS-CoV may have no symptoms or very mild clinical manifestations, making it difficult to detect. To date, the disease has not yet had a specific treatment drug and no vaccine to prevent it.

Meanwhile SARS epidemic died depending on gender and age of patients. For people under 25 years of age, the death rate is less than 1%; 25-44 years old, the rate increased to 6%; gender 45-64 is 15%; and over 65 years of age is 50% or more.

According to a recent study on how viruses cause MERS in the human body, this virus often attacks low respiratory organs such as the lungs, without infecting the upper respiratory organs such as the nose and throat. . Therefore, experts say this is the reason that this disease is difficult to spread from one person to another.

According to Professor Ali Zumla, of the Department of Infectious Diseases of University College London (UK), it is unlikely that corona virus spreads quickly into a pandemic. The rate of infection of this disease is much slower than that of SARS.

MERS disease corona virus appeared in 2012 in the Gulf and has now spread to France, Germany, Italy, Tuynisia and England. The death rate of MERS infected people since 2012 is about 40%. Everyone who has a fever and has respiratory symptoms within 14 days after arriving in the Middle East is recommended to test for MERS.

In Korea is a hot spot for MERS - CoV epidemic, according to the Ministry of Health, South Korea announced on June 6 to record 9 more cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS-CoV. So far, Korea has had 65 cases of MERS-CoV syndrome, with 5 deaths.

On June 7, 2015, the Department of Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health has issued a notice informing people that people are limited to traveling to epidemic areas, especially for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes. , chronic lung disease, immunodeficiency .

If we have to go, we need to find out the situation of epidemic diseases at the destination to take proactive measures to prevent infection for ourselves; When returning home, you must file a medical declaration when you enter the country, self-monitor your health within 14 days and immediately notify the medical agency when symptoms are suspected.

1. People with symptoms of respiratory infections or suspected illnesses such as fever, cough, shortness of breath should not travel or go to a crowded place.
2. Avoid contact with people with acute respiratory disease. When you need to be in contact with an ill person, wear a medical mask and keep a distance when contacting.
3. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; It is best to use a cloth or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing to reduce the spread of respiratory secretions, then discard or wash the towels immediately.

General recommendations:

1. Keep personal hygiene, wash your hands often with soap, avoid putting your hands on your eyes, nose or mouth.
2. Strengthen ventilation in places of residence, workplaces, schools, medical facilities . by opening doors and windows, limiting the use of air-conditioners.
3. Regularly clean the floor, door handles, and surfaces of household objects with regular detergents, such as soap and other common disinfecting solutions.
4. Strengthen health by eating enough food, reasonable living and rest.
5. If you see signs of acute respiratory inflammation, you must immediately notify the nearest medical facility for advice and timely management.