Mers outbreak: Q & A

There is growing concern about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers): What is it? Am I at risk? What are the symptoms?

 By Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent

4:34PM BST 03 May 2014

What is Mers?

Mers is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a virus which causes pneumonia and associated conditions, fatally in a large minority of patients – estimated currently at about a third. It is a coronavirus, a particular type of virus like the Sars virus that struck East Asia in 2002-3, which is not fully understood. In the case of Mers, it is not clear why it causes violent effects in some carriers but hardly any or none at all in others.

Am I at risk?

The number of people diagnosed with the condition is quite small considering that it was first registered two years ago – around 400. All of those affected so far have a connection to countries in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia, which accounts for the vast majority of cases. That suggests that the virus is not highly contagious and therefore even if you have been in contact with someone from Saudi Arabia – even if that person was infected – there is a low chance of its having been passed on to you. However, considering the high fatality rate, it is important to report any symptoms to a doctor.

Fears British passengers have brought MERS virus to UK 02 May 2014

Saudi Arabia: MERS death toll passes 100 28 Apr 2014

Workers wear mouth and nose masks while on duty during a football match in Riyadh following reports of MERS cases

In addition, most of those infected in Saudi Arabia have been staff or patients at hospitals that have been treating the sick. This suggests that disease control in those hospitals was not adequate, and the Saudi health minister was sacked over the crisis last month.

But there have been cases in the UK

Four people have been diagnosed with the disease in Britain, three of whom have died. But all had connections to the Gulf region. In addition, the first American case this week had been to Britain, but only as a transit passenger at Heathrow Airport on April 24 on his way back from Saudi Arabia, where he was a health worker.

I've heard it comes from camels?

Like Sars, Mers is believed to have "jumped species". The virus has so far been found in bats and camels. However you do not have to have been in contact with one of these animals to contract the disease – most transmissions have been shown to be person-to-person.

What are the symptoms?

Mers is a severe acute respiratory illness, with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The maximum incubation period is two weeks.

Source:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews