Laboratory worker dies of dangerous Mers virus

Saudi Arabia: Laboratory worker dies of Mers virus

05/05/2014

A few days ago it was reported that the dangerous coronavirus Mers also reached the US, health experts are in great concern as the virus spreads more and more. This is especially true in Saudi Arabia, where it is reported that a laboratory worker has now died as a result of a Mers infection.

Laboratory worker died in Saudi Arabia
Like the newspaper „Saudi Gazette“ In the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, a laboratory worker died as a result of a Mers infection. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the country with the highest number of Mers infections worldwide. Between 11 and 26 April 2014 alone, 138 cases were diagnosed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Nevertheless, the precautionary measures in the health sector of the Islamic country seem to be insufficient. The reported case is already the second death of a hospital employee by the dangerous virus.

Mers first appeared in the pilgrim city of Mecca
According to the paper, doctors in a private hospital had the Mers-CoV („Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus“) initially not recognized. According to her diagnosis was „Dengue fever“. The Mers virus can cause severe respiratory infections, pneumonia and kidney failure. The virus, against which there is no vaccine, now appeared for the first time in the pilgrim city of Mecca. There, a 40-year-old woman was taken to the hospital. Last weekend, the first Mers case was detected in the US. There, in the state of Indiana, a patient with symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath and coughing had gone to a clinic. He was previously from Saudi Arabia, where he has worked in the health service, via the United Kingdom entered the United States.

Pathogen also introduced to other countries
Even though most of the illnesses are registered in Saudi Arabia, the pathogen was occasionally introduced to other countries, such as Great Britain. A 73-year-old Mers patient from the United Arab Emirates also died in Munich in March 2013. In addition, a death is currently being examined for a connection with Mers in Egypt. A 60-year-old, who recently returned from a pilgrimage from Saudi Arabia, died in Port Said, according to authorities. The Sars pathogens, which are also part of the coronaviruses, killed around 800 people ten years ago. Although Mers is considered less infectious, but it leads to death more often than is the case with many other infectious diseases. For travel to affected countries, it is recommended that basic precautions be taken, such as keeping distance from people with acute respiratory infections and avoiding animal contact. Also recommended are general hygiene measures such as regular hand washing and the omission of meat that has not been completely cooked, as well as raw vegetables and unpeeled fruit. (Sb)

Picture: Aka