CHARLOTTE, NC — A mysterious virus killing almost one out of every three people diagnosed with it has reached the United States. Health officials say an Indiana man has been infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
We talked with a Charlotte doctor to learn more about this deadly disease, and how it spreads.
MERS was first reported in the Middle East, on the Arabian Peninsula in 2012. Very little is known about the virus, but the CDC says it’s from the same group of viruses as the common cold.
“It also happens to be in the same family as the virus that caused the SARS scare ten years ago. If you remember people running around in airports with masks and all kinds of travel warnings,” says Dr. Charles Bregier Jr.
There are 339 confirmed MERS cases in Saudi Arabia alone, with nearly 33% of those resulting in death.
There was a spike in cases last month, and the World Health Organization is reporting deaths in Europe and Africa too.
Now there are concerns that international travelers could bring more cases to America. Local physician Charles Bregier specializes in emergency and travel medicine. He recommends taking extra precaution.
“I actually try to take a little pocket mask with me so that if the person sitting next to me, or right behind me, and right behind you is bad,” Dr. Bregier says. “Because if they cough or sneeze it comes forward onto you.”
MERS-coronavirus attacks the respiratory system. Symptoms can start out similar to a common cold, but can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure.
“And they’re really sick if they’re having difficulty breathing, wheezing, they feel like they’re going to pass out, high fever, if they seem confused,” continues Dr. Bregier. “All those could be signs of lack of oxygen, or overwhelming infection. And if that happens, go see a doctor right away. Don’t wait.”
Health officials say the first American case of MERS is an Indiana man who traveled to Saudi Arabia as a health care worker, and flew back to the U.S. last week.
