Will MERS become a global threat? 2014

Third case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

in the United States has been reported. An unidentified Illinois man was infected after having "extended face-to-face contact" with an Indiana man who was diagnosed with the MERS virus

Camels

MERS, like 70% of all emerging infectious diseases, including influenza, SARS, HIV/AIDS and ebola, originates in wildlife. With MERS, both bats and camels may be implicated. Studies of camels in Saudi Arabia indicate that the majority have a history of MERS coronavirus infection. Infection appears to occur in early life and then clears. Up to a third of young camels carry this infectious virus

To date, cases of human-to-human transmission

have only been reported in hospitals and in families where there is intimate contact with an infected person.

source: edition.cnn.com/2014

Related:

Middle East Virus Pandemic

May Not Be Big Mississippi Threat

MERS should not be confused with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) an unfortunately common bacteria associated with both community- and hospital-acquired infections.

source: hottytoddy.com/2014