Confirmed Outbreak of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia Raises Concerns of Potential Pandemic
Background
On Wednesday, May 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the confirmation of a recent outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia, which has sparked fears of a potential new pandemic. Four individuals have been infected, with at least one fatality, according to Saudi Arabian health officials.
Possible Human-to-Human Transmission
The most alarming aspect of this outbreak is that two of the MERS-CoV cases involved human-to-human transmission. This fact has raised concerns among researchers, as it significantly increases the potential for a wider spread of the virus. However, the WHO still assesses the overall risk of MERS-CoV as “moderate” at both regional and global levels.
Localized Outbreak
While the outbreak has raised concerns, health authorities have been able to limit the cases to specific areas in Saudi Arabia. Three of the four confirmed cases were traced back to a single hospital in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. The fourth case, which occurred in the city of Taif, is believed to be unrelated to the others and was connected to camel exposure.
“The three cases are epidemiologically linked to exposures in a health-care facility in Riyadh, although investigations are ongoing to verify this and understand the route of transmission,” states the WHO.
Details of Fatal Case
Among the confirmed cases, one unfortunate fatality was reported. The victim, a 56-year-old male schoolteacher, exhibited common symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, and body aches on March 29. He was admitted to an emergency room at a Riyadh hospital on April 4 and subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for isolation. The patient had preexisting health conditions, including high blood pressure and chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis. The exact source of his exposure to MERS-CoV remains unclear.
MERS-CoV and Its Enigma
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) first gained attention in 2012 and has since claimed numerous lives, resulting in a fatality rate of 36% out of approximately 2,500 reported cases. The virus, similar to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, still lacks a viable vaccine. This ongoing threat further emphasizes the urgency for continued research and preventive measures to safeguard public health.
Source: Respectable News Organization
