MERS, The new Covid-19?
As soon as the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have subsided, another heckler- the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), takes the stage. Although it looks more geographically contained than Covid-19, caution is in the air due to the multitude of international voyages among us.
This virus, belonging to the family Coronaviridae, gained notoriety due to the severe respiratory illness it causes. Let’s uncover the mysteries of MERS, compare it with its notorious cousin COVID-19, and understand why one has escalated into a pandemic and will the other follow it’s lead.
The Epicenter of MERS
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. It swiftly earned its title due to its origin and the severe respiratory symptoms it induces. MERS-CoV is believed to have originated in bats and camels that could have served as an intermediate host, transmitting the virus to humans.
The Arabian Peninsula, particularly Saudi Arabia, has been the epicenter of MERS outbreaks, although cases have been sporadically reported in other countries. The United Arab Emirates reported an isolated case of MERS in a 28-year-old man in July 2023. The man has no history of contact with any farm animals and also no secondary cases were identified in any of his close contacts. He is a mystery to date!
Transmission
Comparing the spread of MERS with the COVID-19 pandemic is similar to comparing two opposite poles. Both viruses belong to the coronavirus family, but their genetic structure variations bring about two contrasting siblings.
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is big on human-to-human transmission, leading to its rapid spread globally. It will spread through respiratory droplets and even asymptomatic carriers, contributing to its pandemic status.
MERS, on the other hand, is more of an introvert. It shows limited human-to-human transmission through respiratory secretions, often involving only close contacts or in hospital settings. It is contracted by humans through direct or indirect handling of infectious animals, camels and bats being the probable suspects.
Clinical presentation
Imagine a cascade of suffering: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These notes resonate eerily across MERS and COVID-19. The waiting period from the time of contact of infection to being infected is 14 days for both of these lads. Once infected, you have to wait for 10 days after the fever has subsided to face the public again.
MERS, however, choreographs a more dramatic ballet with additional dancers like gastrointestinal symptoms-diarrhea. A dance that captivates its host with a painful experience.
As the plot thickens, MERS weaves a quilt of complications. Pneumonia descends like a suffocating fog, filling the lungs with shadows. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) enters the stage by conjuring a script of struggling breaths. Kidney failure slithers insidiously, while the script unfolds towards a potentially fatal climax.
Although Covid-19 has its own list of complications, it is pretty rare. Only a minute fraction of the patients with Covid-19 end up in its wrath.
Mortality Rates
MERS owns a chilling mortality rate of around 35%. It wears its dark crown with pride, surpassing that of COVID-19’s 2–3%. MERS lingers in the shadows, delivering a deathly blow that leaves a haunting echo.
Treatment
The medical practitioners engage in a similar duet with MERS and Covid- 19. The weapons at hand, alas, are few and far between. No antiviral magic to conjure hope; only the lifelines of oxygen and fluids to navigate the storm and guide the patient to calmer waters.
Vaccine
Currently, Covid-19 has a few vaccines to battle but MERS has none. No vaccine adorns our armory against its venomous charms. Till date MERS reigns, challenging the researchers.
Prevention
To thwart MERS’s tactics, one must engage in a defiant ballet of hygiene. Avoid camels, if there are MERS cases around you. If absolute necessity prevails, then approach them with face masks and personal protection kits. Within healthcare’s fortress, meticulous infection control stands as armor against MERS’s touch.
Similarly for Covid-19, infection control is the key in all public places. We all know the drill, right? face masks, safe distance, and hand washing/sanitizing.
So, that’s about it!
MERS, with its higher fatality and darker mystique, stands juxtaposed against COVID-19 which has taken center stage as a defining global health crisis.
The contrasting fates of MERS and COVID-19 underscore the intricate interplay of biology, epidemiology, and human behavior in shaping the course of infectious diseases.
Each virus plays its part in painting the future, leaving humanity entwined in a rat race with the unknown.
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