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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 30, 2014 12:31 PM IST
A 63-year old woman has been quarantined in a private hospital here on suspicion of having contracted MERS-CoV (The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus), health department sources said here today. The airport authorities had advised the woman, who had been back from Saudi Arabia on May 19 to get a check-up done for MERS as she was coughing. She was admitted to the private hospital on May 22.
The samples of blood and respiratory secretion (throat samples) have been sent to the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), Pune, and the report was expected in two days, sources said. This is the first suspected case of MERS in Karnataka after an alert was sent to airports in Bangalore and Mangalore, where MERS screening facilities have been established. District Heath and Family Welfare Officer H S Shivakumar said a test done at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal had suggested that it was only viral fever. However, the report from NIB would be conclusive. (Read: Netherlands reports second MERS case)
What exactly is the MERS-CoV?
The MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus which has been christened Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus.
MERS-CoV facts
1. Spread by animals in contact with bats
Mostly carried by bats but also some other vertebrates, the MERS Coronovirus spreads very rapidly in animals when they are kept together in confined and crowded places like live-animal markets, slaughter houses and while transporting animals by ships. Close and prolong contact with infected animals, which may not show any symptoms, helps virus jump to human. As it happened in SARS most of the animal traders were found to have SARS antibodies without any symptoms. This is a stage of adaptation to a new host (Inter-species transfer) which led to possible viral genetic mutation to adapt to its new human host. Same may be true for MERS-CoV.
2. It doesn't spread rapidly among humans
MERS is not transmitted very readily from person-to-person. This may occur after close and prolonged contact with infected patient in closed environment like home, hospitals etc. Infection spreads by coughing, droplet infection. But it can become air borne, meaning spread by air in hospitals when infected patient is given pressurized oxygen, intubated or procedures like bronchoscopy or during the use of pressurized devises like dental drill etc making healthcare workers more susceptible.
3. Infection control in hospitals and clinics can prevent spread
Healthcare workers getting infected by MERS are reported on a regular basis which shows failure of observing stringent Infection Control Procedures in the hospitals. It is the responsibility of the hospitals to educate their staff, supervise and implement strict Infection Control and isolation procedures. Infected healthcare workers take the infection to their family and wider community.Read more 12 fast facts about MERS-CoV
With inputs from PTI
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