MERS Makes Its North American Debut
And so it has come to pass. In a finding that dominated headlines all last week, authorities are reporting that the highly dangerous Middle East Respiratory Virus (MERS), first discovered in Saudi Arabia, has now made landfall of a sort, appearing in a patient in Indiana.
The bad news is that MERS has stolen many lives in areas with poor medical treatment. The good news is that the virus isn’t especially contagious, and seems to be containable with medications for the moment.
Still, it is a reminder that respiratory infections can strike anywhere and hitchhike in a flash, and that proper preventive measures such as heeding travel warnings are simply good policy. For now, the word from the Centers for Disease Control is sanguine:
The CDC has issued no warnings about travel to countries involved in the outbreak. However, anyone who develops fever, cough or shortness of breath within two weeks of traveling in or near the Arabian Peninsula should see their doctor and mention their travel history.