New Health Alert - MERS CoV in Middle East
Jayson Celestra
Dear All,
Please find below the new health alert, in relation with the new virus MERS CoV. As the number of cases has increased the last weeks, it is important to be aware of this disease.
Please cascade and distribute this alert to people working or traveling to this area as appropriate.
Background
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a viral respiratory illness and is responsible for respiratory infections.
MERS - CoV:
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO
has been informed of a total of 414 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection
with MERS-CoV, including 115 deaths. As much as 75% of the recently reported
cases appear to be secondary cases, meaning that they have
acquired the infection from an infected person.
Cases has been reported to the WHO, from:
Middle east countries: Saudi Arabia,
United Arab emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Egypt,
Europe (travel-associated cases):
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, United Kingdom (UK) and in others
countries: Tunisia, Malaysia, Philippines and USA.
WHO is currently working with international
experts and countries where cases have been reported to assess the situation
and review recommendations for surveillance and monitoring.
WHO does neither advise special screening
at points of entry nor recommend any travel or trade restrictions
Summary
The Disease
Coronaviruses are viruses causing common
cold. In 2003, a coronavirus was also the cause of the SARS (severe acute
respiratory syndrome), but this novel coronavirus is different
Symptoms
MERS-CoV infection generally presents as
pneumonia, but can also cause kidney failure.
The most common symptoms are fever, cough,
and breathing difficulties.
Transmission
There is very limited information on how
the MERS-CoV infection might be transmitted.
However, it is known that most of the serious
cases are in people with previous medical conditions, such
as diabetes, heart or lung disease, etc.
Coronaviruses generally spread from one person
to another through infected respiratory droplets when coughing, sneezing,
or talking or via contact with contaminated droplets.
Treatment and Prevention
As there are no vaccines for MERS-CoV, the
treatment is mostly symptomatic.
Although the source of the virus and
the mechanism of transmission is unknown, it is recommended to
reduce the risk of infection by:
· Basic
hygiene measures can prevent most of the transmission.
· Avoiding
close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
· Frequent
hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their
environment.
· Adhering
to food safety and hygiene rules such as avoiding undercooked meats, raw
fruits and vegetables unless they have been cleaned and peeled or unsafe
water.
· Avoiding
close contact with live farm or wild animals.
If you are traveling into or living
in or near the Arabian Peninsula countries, it is recommended to pay attention
to your health during and after your stay/trip:
Persons must seek medical advice, if they
develop symptoms such as fever, lower respiratory symptoms, cough, shortness
of breath, etc.
Regards,
QHSE Department
This email and any attached files ("Message") may contain confidential and/or privileged information. It is intended solely for the addressee(s). If you receive this Message in error, inform the sender by reply email, delete the Message and destroy any printed copy.
Any unauthorized use, distribution, or copying of this Message or any part thereof is prohibited. Emails are susceptible to alteration. Neither Technip nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for the Message if altered or falsified nor shall they be liable for any damage caused by any virus that might be transmitted with this Message.