What is the MERS virus? A group of scientists from different countries named viruses that can destroy the population of our planet. People at risk of contracting the MERS virus include:
Over the past weekend, Saudi Arabia confirmed 20 more cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which, together with previous cases, amounted to 49 infectious patients in six days. This was an alarming indicator of the spread of the disease, which kills one in three people infected and has no cure.
MERS is a previously unknown coronavirus that was first discovered in Saudi Arabia two years ago. WITH According to a statement by Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health officials on the official website,224 residents of the kingdom were infected with the virus, of whom 76 died.
However, Health Minister Abdullah
al-Rabia) told reporters that there is no scientific evidence yet to justify the use preventive measures precautions such as restrictions on movement or travel outside the country.He said he did not know the reason for the increase in cases in Jeddah, but said it could be due to a seasonal surge in the spread of the disease, as last year there was also an increase in cases of the infection in April and May.
Another hotspot for the spread of this virus is observed in the United Arab Emirates, and Yemeni authorities also confirm that that one case of infection has been identified in the country.
There is no vaccine for the MERS virus or antiviral treatment, while doctors in Saudi Arabia and a number of representatives of international medical organizations say that the disease, first discovered in camels, is not widespread among people, and the wave of diseases should soon subside.
However, health experts have warned that the MERS virus has the potential to mutate. The alarming fact is that in the last two weeks To number officially confirmed cases Infections with the virus have suddenly increased in Saudi Arabia.
To reassure the public The country's authorities have issued several statements saying there is no cause for concern about the recent spread of the disease as it does not meet the international definition of an epidemic.
Rabia said that the ministry has attracted cooperation on vaccine developmentfive companies from Europe and North America, and representatives of these companies will soon arrive in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is expecting a surge of pilgrims in July during the annual fasting month of Ramadan, followed by millions more arriving in October for the hajj to Mecca.
NEW INFECTIONS
Malaysian health officials said last week that one of the country's citizens had been infected with the virus after a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Rumors of unreported cases of infection are periodically discussed in the Saudi media. Last week, the government urged journalists to report only on cases that had been officially confirmed by the health ministry.
Most of the new cases are being found in the port city of Jeddah, where 37 cases, including seven deaths, have been reported since last Monday. Another 10 cases of infection, of which only one was fatal so far, were recorded in the capital Riyadh. There were also new cases confirmed in Najran province and Medina city.
Last week, several more infections were reported in the neighboring United Arab Emirates and Yemen, where the first case was discovered. UAE News Agency,WAM, reported that 12 new cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed, which were identified during “routine checks” of people who came into contact with patients.
WAM quoted authorities as saying the patients were in hospital and “do not pose a danger to the public or other patients.” The statement also says that according to doctors' forecasts, patients will be discharged in 10-14 days.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus ( Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus – MERS-CoV), formerly known as novel coronavirus (nCoV), causes a viral respiratory disease first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The source of MERS is currently unknown, although the virus likely originated from an animal.
The MERS virus is currently spreading in South Korea. This, combined with the fact that the coronavirus can mutate frequently, is leading to increased fears that it could lead to an epidemic.
MERS-CoV is different from other viruses and there is currently no vaccine for it.
Most confirmed cases of MERS-CoV presented with symptoms of severe acute respiratory illness. Approximately 36% of patients with reported MERS have died.
- MERS-CoV was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
- MERS-CoV belongs to the coronavirus family.
- All cases were linked to countries in or neighboring the Arabian Peninsula.
- Cases of MERS-CoV have been reported in other countries and have been associated with travel and initially developed in the Middle East.
- Mammals are thought to play a role in transmission of the virus (bats and camels remain candidates)
- In addition to humans, strains of MERS-CoV have been found in camels in Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and in mice in Saudi Arabia.
- Doctors describe MERS-CoV as a flu-like illness with signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
- Patients with MERS-CoV primarily develop severe acute respiratory disease. Some patients had mild respiratory illness, while others had no symptoms.
- There is no specific treatment for patients with MERS-CoV
- Of the confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, 36% were fatal.
What is MERS-CoV?
MERS-CoV belongs to the coronavirus family. Human coronaviruses were first classified in the mid-1960s. The subgroups of coronaviruses are referred to as alpha, beta, gamma and delta. There are currently six coronaviruses that can infect humans:
Alpha coronavirussy:
- Human coronavirus 229E
- Human coronavirus NL63
Beta coronaviruses:
- Human coronavirus OC43
- Human coronavirus HKU1
- SARS-CoV
- Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
MERS-CoV belongs to the coronavirus family. Human coronaviruses were first classified in the mid-1960s. MERS-CoV was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.
Coronaviruses usually infect one species or species that are closely related. However, SARS-CoV infects humans and animals, including monkeys, Himalayan palm civets, raccoon dogs, cats, dogs and rodents.
The common cold is a syndrome associated with viruses (more than 100 individual viruses, including human coronavirus).
MERS-CoV is a species in the beta coronavirus genus, which currently includes tylo nycteris bat coronavirus HKU4 and pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5. Although it is in the same subgroup, MERS-CoV is different from the coronavirus that caused the severe acute respiratory virus (SARS) in 2003. One parallel between MERS-CoV and SARS is that they are both similar to coronaviruses found in bats.
MERS-CoV in batsMERS-CoV is a species in the beta coronavirus genus, which currently includes tylo nycteris bat coronavirus HKU4 and pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5.
MERS-CoV is very similar to as yet unclassified insectivorous European and African bat viruses of the Vespertilionidae and Nycteridae families.
All cases were associated with countries in or neighboring the Arabian Peninsula, including:
- Bahrain
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- West Bank
- Yemen.
Cases of MERS-CoV have been reported in other countries and have been associated with travel and initially developed in the Middle East. Countries that have reported the disease are:
Near East:
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia (KSA)
- United United Arab Emirates(UAE)
- Yemen.
Europe:
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Türkiye
- Great Britain.
Africa:
- Algeria
- Tunisia.
Asia:
- China
- The Republic of Korea
- Malaysia
- Philippines.
North and South America:
What causes MERS-CoV?
The cause of MERS-CoV is not yet fully understood. Although not confirmed, the infection may be initially zoonotic in nature, with limited human-to-human transmission. Mammals are thought to play a role in transmission of the virus - bats and camels remain highly suspect.
In addition to humans, MERS-CoV strains have been found in:
- camels in Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
- bats in Saudi Arabia
Antibodies against MERS-CoV have been detected in camels in Africa and the Middle East, indicating that they were previously infected with MERS-CoV or a very related virus.
Researchers from three centers in the United States and two in Saudi Arabia performed full genetic sequencing of MERS-CoV isolates obtained from five camels; the results confirmed their identity to the genetic sequence of the human isolates.
Goats, sheep, cows, buffalo, pigs and wild birds have been tested for antibodies to MERS-CoV; So far, none of them have tested positive for the virus.
Mammals are thought to play a role in transmission of the virus (bats and camels remain suspect).
The above results support the hypothesis that camels are the likely source of transmission to humans, while bats may be the ultimate reservoir of the virus. A high infectious dose requires very close contact between an infected camel and a human to infect the latter. It has been suggested that the virus can infect humans through respiratory droplets, milk or camel meat.
Experts note that while respiratory transmission is the most likely route, papers have emerged that suggest MERS-CoV may survive in raw camel milk slightly longer than in milk from other species, suggesting further study of foodborne transmission.
Signs and symptoms of MERS
The most common signs and symptoms of MERS are:
- increase in body temperature to 38 0 C and above
- cough
- labored breathing
- chills
- chest pain
- a sore throat
- malaise
- headache
- diarrhea
- nausea, vomiting
- runny nose
- renal failure
- pneumonia.
Doctors describe the illness as a flu-like illness with signs and symptoms of pneumonia. Early reports described symptoms similar to those found in cases of SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome). However, SARS infection did not cause kidney failure, unlike MERS-CoV.
Patients with MERS-CoV typically develop severe acute respiratory illness. Some patients had mild respiratory illness, while others had no symptoms.
Who is at risk?
The following groups of people are more susceptible to MERS-CoV infection and complications:
- Patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic lung disease and heart disease
- Aged people
- Organ transplant recipients who are taking immunosuppressive medications
- Other patients with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Of all confirmed MERS-CoV cases, 36% have been fatal.
Tests and diagnostics
Polymerase chain reaction is used to detect and diagnose infectious diseases and can confirm positive cases of MERS-CoV using a sample from the patient's respiratory tract.
A blood test can determine whether a person has previously been infected by checking for the presence of antibodies to MERS-CoV.
Treatment and prevention
According to the CDC (USA) and WHO, there is no specific treatment for patients with MERS-CoV infection.
All doctors can do at present is provide supportive care. medical treatment to help relieve symptoms. Supportive care consists of preventing, controlling, or alleviating complications and side effects, and attempting to improve patients' comfort and quality of life. Maintenance therapy does not involve treating or improving the disease.
Most confirmed cases of MERS-CoV presented with symptoms of severe acute pulmonary disease; 36% of these patients died.
To reduce the risk of MERS-CoV infection among travelers, recommendations have been developed that include the following information:
- There is an increased risk of illness among travelers who already have chronic illnesses.
- There is an increased risk of illness in travelers who have influenza or traveler's diarrhea.
- Frequent hand washing with soap and water is recommended.
- Avoid eating undercooked meat or food prepared in unsanitary conditions.
- Make sure fruits and vegetables are washed well before eating.
- If a traveler develops an acute respiratory illness with fever, they should minimize close contact with others, wear a medical mask, and sneeze into a sleeve, flexed elbow, or tissue (making sure it is disposed of after use).
- If an acute respiratory illness with fever develops within 14 days after returning from travel, you should immediately seek medical help.
- All cases must be reported local authorities healthcare providers that control MERS-CoV.
Although MERS-CoV is contagious, the virus does not appear to be transmitted between people without close contact, such as when caring for a patient without protective precautions. Therefore, you should follow your doctor's recommendations if you experience symptoms of the disease.
Since very little is known about the strain of the virus, any advice and recommendations should be considered temporary and subject to change.
Confirmed cases and deaths
As of June 9, 2015, WHO provides the following data on the number of cases of MERS-CoV and the number of deaths from this disease:
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Coronavirus respiratory syndrome in the Middle East (or simply MERS or Mers-CoV) is a disease transmitted by a virus. It was first described in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, when Dr. Ali Mohamed Zaki isolated the body from a patient with severe lung disease. This virus belongs to the family coronaviruses, a type of virus that typically causes mild cold and cold symptoms. However, this coronavirus is very aggressive and completely new, it is suspected to have an animal that has mutated from the virus from bats. If the virus becomes transmitted to a person, it causes a dangerous respiratory infection that occurs with flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms that can affect all body systems and can cause death in 3-5 people affected in 10 cases, especially if the patient is already suffering from another disease before the infection. after 2012, most cases occurred in the Middle East. The countries that are detected in the most cases are: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Jordan and Lebanon. But the mobility of travelers on all continents is now a reality, so that there have been isolated cases of MERS infection in many other countries around the world, including: UK, France, USA, Greece, Egypt, Netherlands, Italy, Tunisia, Malaysia and one case in Spain. This makes RVC a global infectious disease and which has alerted all governments of the world. They are currently studying prevention methods that may be similar to those established to prevent infection Staphylococcus aureus methicillin (MRSA). Despite this, fortunately, spread from person to person is limited and outbreaks only appear in isolation in hospitals or work. The number of cases worldwide is still very low (the number of deaths from MERS is up to the global round of 200), which allows the WHO to say that by then, the disease is under control, and that, as of today, do not meet the requirements to declare a state of emergency in International Health.Causes of MERS
Head of the scary respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the Middle East is a small virus (MERS-Cow) family of coronaviruses. These viruses have been known for decades to be the leading cause of colds or upper respiratory colds. Nevertheless, virus much more aggressive MERS individually, but it is more difficult to transmit from person to person. It's also perfect new virus for our immune system, so the idea of protecting our body will fight much worse.It was suspected that this virus may have mutated from another coronavirus from bats, and found genetic similarities of more than 90%.
How is RVC distributed?
RVK viral the infection is similar to other respiratory viruses. The secretions of sick people (saliva, mucus) may contain viruses that are transmitted through direct contact, coughing or sneezing. As mentioned, person-to-person spread is more limited than previously thought, and the number of reported cases has caused small outbreaks of self-containment in their immediate environment, where they live and work and the hospitals that have been reported.It was not known how the virus arrived in humans, or if it was still being transmitted from animals. Direct contact with bats, does not seem to be a possibility, although this could be the source of the virus because it does not correlate with an increase in rabies cases and it is common in animals in the Middle East. Coronavirus has been isolated from other animals such as camels. This animal, which is very common in Arab countries, may be vehicle entry into the human body, but is still being studied.
Once the virus reaches a person and reaches the respiratory tract, it begins to multiply in the epithelial bronchi. This causes an acute respiratory infection that quickly produces pneumonia or flu-like respiratory symptoms. The infection causes a global change in all devices and systems, and can be fatal in up to half of cases, especially if the victim had an underlying disease.
Symptoms of Merc
Mers-CoV can cause symptoms in different levels human body. Its method of operation is similar to influenza and other respiratory viruses. The main symptoms of Middle East coronavirus respiratory syndrome (MERS) are:- Malaise, pain in muscles and joints.
- Catarrhal symptoms with pharyngeal discomfort, coughing, sneezing, etc.
- Feeling tired or short of breath, pneumonia occurs when an obstruction of part of the lungs forms.
- Fever can be very high, exceeding 39ºC.
- Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting.
MERS may end in patient of death in up to half of cases, although recent data shows that only 27% of patients do not overcome the infection. Not surprisingly, those most vulnerable are those with underlying medical conditions (heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, cancer), the immunocompromised and the elderly.
It should be borne in mind that coronavirus cannot cause respiratory syndrome and be completely asymptomatic. This makes it seem healthy people able to transmit the virus among their close contacts (family, partners, etc.). This may explain why he was unable to find the source of infection in many cases.
Diagnosis of MERS
Clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific to MERS making it difficult to achieve correct diagnosis. We need to think about possible case Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the following situations:- Respiratory symptoms in people who have traveled to the Middle East in the past two weeks.
- Respiratory symptoms in people who have had close contacts with people who have traveled to the Middle East two weeks earlier.
- Respiratory symptoms in people who had contact with other sick people in MERS were diagnostically possible.
Because tests take several days to become available, a person suspected of having MERS will be isolated and you will be considered a patient under investigation ( patient under investigation, PUI). Hospitals around the world have a number of protocols that are activated in these situations.
Treatment of MERS
There is no specific treatment for MERS. Mild symptoms can be treated with non-specific drugs that relieve the patient (analgesics that reduce fever and pain, open the bronchi with aerosols, etc.).When the box is severe there may be more invasive interventions such as dialysis if renal failure or intubation, when respiratory failure is irreversible. there is no vaccine against this coronavirus today. How MERS overcome infections depends entirely on the health status of the patient concerned and symptomatic treatment and support should be provided. They are studying new drugs and vaccines against the virus, but nothing is conclusive.
Preventative MERS-CoV
It is precisely because of this lack of certain and effective treatment then it's better to try prevent the spread of MERS and prevent its spread, for which a number of recommended measures have been taken:- Wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds several times a day. If water cannot be used, a hydroalcoholic solution is used.
- Like the flu, you should sneeze and cough into a tissue or directly onto the ground, avoiding covered hands. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose to prevent contact with secretions.
- Avoid kissing and sharing utensils and cups or plates with sick people.
- There are no travel restrictions to the Middle East. If you travel there you should maintain the same hygiene measures, such as washing your hands and avoiding contact with people with cold symptoms.
- The Saudi Arabian government also recommends the use of masks and avoiding contact with camels until it has been confirmed whether these animals can transmit the virus.
- If you are a person with underlying conditions or a weak immune system, you should also avoid contact with animals, eating undercooked meat or not sanitized milk.
- If the room or house in which the casualty occurred or is suspected of being haunted, you should disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, toys, etc.
The official and generally accepted name of the coronavirus is “Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirinae” (MERS-CoV, in Russian abbreviation MERS-CoV). This new and almost unstudied type of Betacoronavirus virus has excited not only epidemiologists in recent weeks; more and more people in different parts of the world have begun to become interested in the symptoms and methods of treatment for coronavirus MERS CoV, because according to leading media reports, MERS CoV leaves very little chance of survival for those infected.
Should we really be afraid of coronavirus? Russian scientists and doctors are already asking themselves these questions.
The first cases of MERS CoV coronavirus infection
These types of viruses, discovered back in the 60s, received their original “crown” name because of the villi on their shell. Their shape exactly follows the outline of the solar corona during an eclipse. It is these coronaviruses that cause many respiratory infections in animals and people.
The MERS-CoV coronavirus was first identified several years ago, and the first diagnosed human infection caused death; doctors first recorded infection and death from the MERS coronavirus in 2012 in Saudi Arabia - then a 60-year-old man became a victim of the virus. The next place where we encountered a new type of virus was Qatar, where similar symptoms were confirmed in a 49-year-old patient. This time, the research was carried out on a larger scale - special laboratories belonging to the Public Health Protection Agency in North London were involved. The World Health Organization sounded the alarm when it became clear that scientists had encountered a new strain of the virus. This infection has never been identified in either animals or humans.
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan has raised concerns that the new coronavirus has the ability to spread faster than can be found and effective methods fight him. According to the latest data, as of the summer of 2015, 64 cases of infection with Middle East respiratory coronavirus syndrome have already been laboratory confirmed. Of these, 38 deaths were recorded. Residents of Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Tunisia, UAE, Great Britain, Jordan, and Qatar were infected. As you can see, the mortality rate from MERS CoV is quite high.
Possible routes of infection with the MERS CoV virus
The main danger is the fact that the new virus has the ability to be transmitted by airborne droplets, that is, like a normal one. The possibility of infection is quite high when, even during ordinary close communication over a long period of time, the infection can be transmitted to an opponent. If the infected person just coughs and sneezes, that will be enough. However, there are no vaccination options against coronavirus exposure yet.
The incubation period lasts one to two weeks. The Agency for the Protection of Public Health has expressed the opinion that the transmission of the virus is limited. Otherwise, the area covered and the number of cases would be presented in completely different figures - more globally.
Specialist in infectious diseases and microbiologist S. Wiles, representing the University of Auckland, in an interview with the Guardian newspaper, it was noted that most of the infections occurred in hospitals, where infected patients were subsequently treated for completely different diseases, as, for example, happened in France. From here we can draw a parallel and find diseases that can make a person more vulnerable to a new type of virus.
Symptoms of MERS coronavirus in humans
Experts do not yet have complete information about real symptoms and risks of infection. In almost all recorded cases, patients experience the following symptoms: high fever, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and increasing cough. But these symptoms have not been fully studied as a typical reflection of an infectious disease.
About the proven treatment method in in this case Unfortunately, it’s still too early to say. Initially, it is important to place maximum emphasis on treating the respiratory tract and quickly restoring its functions. According to information provided by the chief state sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation, medications used in the treatment of hepatitis C and other extensive viral infections have a clear therapeutic effect on coronavirus.
Often newest look infections have been compared to SARS, which is also caused by the presence of coronavirus in the body. And although some similarities can indeed be observed, this point has not yet been proven in laboratory studies.
The danger of infection with the MERS coronavirus in Russia
There has been talk for a long time that the coronavirus may well penetrate into Russian territory. In this regard, employees of Rospotrebnadzor are carrying out a list of anti-epidemic measures, the action of which is aimed at preventing the spread of infection to us. The regions of Primorye and Sakhalin - places of intense air traffic with South Korea and population migration - are the most worrying.
In addition, if you wish or need to visit the countries of the Middle East, doctors advise adhering to at least basic rules of hygiene. On such trips it is important:
- use soap or disinfectant wipes when washing your hands;
- if you suspect exposure to diseases, reduce communication with these people;
- If possible, avoid places with large crowds of people.
Moreover, if you experience a feeling of malaise, poor health, or symptoms of ARVI, you must contact a specialist as soon as possible for examination and testing. In addition, it is important at this time to use handkerchiefs, respiratory masks and try to communicate with others as little as possible.
Russians are being urged not to travel to South Korea and the Middle East due to the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) there. Can the infection reach Russia and is there a way to protect against it, AiF.ru told Head physician of KB MEDSI in Botkinsky Proezd Nikita Neverov.
Natalya Kozhina, AiF.ru: Nikita Igorevich, the number of MERS victims is growing almost every day, is it possible to somehow protect yourself from of this virus?
Nikita Neverov: Based on the information we have today, incubation period MERS (the time between when a person is exposed to MERS-CoV and when symptoms of the disease appear) is 5 or 6 days, but can range from 2-14 days.
MERS - coronavirus, like other coronaviruses, is released from the respiratory tract of an infected person, for example, when coughing. However, the exact mechanisms of transmission remain to be understood.
Person-to-person transmission of Mers-CoV typically occurs through close contact, such as living together or caring for an infected person. Cases of infection spreading among patients in one hospital have been documented.
Until 2015, all known cases were associated with the Arabian Peninsula region. Most of the infected people either lived there or recently arrived from there. However, recent cases of the disease, such as in South Korea, are the largest outbreak outside of Saudi Arabia. The number of cases in this country is growing every day. A ninth person has been reported to have died from Mers-CoV. total number confirmed cases have reached 108. More than 2,800 people remain in quarantine, either at home or in medical institutions. And more than 2,000 schools remain closed. The first case of the South Korean outbreak was recorded on May 20, the vast majority o cases are associated with patients staying in the same hospital. The virus mainly affected older patients. Fatalities, as expected, occurred in patients with underlying medical conditions.
Experts World Organization health officials who have dealt with MERS will travel to South Korea to assess the spread of the virus and work on efforts to respond to this threat. According to WHO, in addition to South Korea, 1,179 cases of MERS infection have been confirmed to date in 25 countries.Due to the lack of accurate data on the modes of transmission of the virus, preventive measures (as for all other respiratory viruses, such as the influenza virus) must include both the airborne route (medical masks) and the contact route (hand treatment and contaminated surfaces).
— What symptoms does an infected person have?
— Most patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection suffered severe acute respiratory disease with symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath. In some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms were observed, including diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Severe complications also developed - pneumonia and kidney failure. 3-4 out of every 10 sick people died. Some infected people had mild cold-like symptoms or no clinical manifestations of the disease at all. Patients with concomitant diseases (diabetes, cancer, chronic diseases of the lungs, heart, and kidneys) are most susceptible to infection and development of a severe form of the disease with a fatal outcome.
- Is there any currently a vaccine or specific medicine for this virus?— There is no vaccination. There is no specific antiviral drug; treatment includes maintaining the functions of vital organs and systems.
— Is the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus threatening Russia?
— The situation with MERS in the Russian Federation, Europe and the USA represents a very low risk of infection for the general population. For example, in the United States, only two cases of positive results for MERS coronavirus have been identified, both in May 2014, among more than 500 tests conducted in connection with suspected MERS-CoV. Both cases mentioned were unrelated and were reported from medical workers who lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, where they are believed to have been infected. Both were hospitalized in the United States and then safely discharged due to a full recovery. However, it is impossible to completely reject the possibility of the spread of Merc-CoV in countries outside the Arabian Peninsula region, which is confirmed by the current situation in South Korea. The measures that must be taken to prevent this are standard: increasing laboratories for testing Mers-CoV, creating rapid tests; development of recommendations from health care institutions; control at the border and at airports; study of the virus genome of known clinical cases of Mers-CoV.
