Review Article: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) "

Abstract

 The Middle East respiratory syndrome is caused by a coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and that virus has similarities to the SARS coronavirus. Up to now globally, 836 laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases have been reported by the WHO since April 2012 including at least 288 (34%) related deaths. Most cases have been notified from several countries in the Arabian peninsula with occasional exportation through infected travelers. The infection may be asymptomatic or can lead to a severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with septic shock and multiple organ failure. MERS may start with fever, cough, chills, sore throat, myalgias and arthralgias. A third complains of vomiting and diarrhea. Almost half of the patients develop a pneumonia and about 10% an ARDS. About three-quarters of the cases are suffering from an underlying disease (diabetes mellitus, renal failure, cardiovascular diseases, malignancies, COPD). Two third of the infected were males. The mean age of all patients was 49 years. The average incubation period was 5 days. All cases that occurred outside the Middle East, were travelers from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It is assumed that the primary host organisms for MERS-CoV are bats, which transfer the virus to dromedary camels. Humans are infected by nose and eye secretion, stool, urine, milk and meat of camels. Up to now no safe antiviral therapy has been available. Strict hygiene minimizes the risk of infection