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 News Archive 2014






The CDC says an Illinois man does not
have the MERS virus
by Nathan'ette Burdine: June 15, 2014
 


The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that an Illinois man does not have the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Earlier, the CDC reported that the agency believed the man from Illinois had the first transmitted case of MERS in the U.S.

The agency had previously reported that the case was linked to the case in Indiana. Based on reports, the individual in Illinois came in contact with the individual from Indiana during a brief business meeting.

The individual from Indiana had travelled to Saudi Arabia, where MERS is prevalent. According to the CDC, a respiratory and blood test were given to the man from Illinois and it was determined that he did not have the MERS virus.

And therefore, his case was not related to the man’s case in Indiana. Health professionals concerns increased about the possible spread of the MERS virus after two confirmed cases, the one in Indiana and one in Florida.

In both cases, the individuals travelled to Saudi Arabia. They both began showing signs of the virus and were immediately admitted to the hospital.

In Florida, Hospital officials concerns increased about the virus spreading after some healthcare workers, who were treating the infected patient, began showing signs of the virus.

This resulted in the CDC increasing its travel alert warning and the World Health Organization (WHO) calling a meeting to discuss the severity of the case.

The Orlando Sentinel later reported that two of the workers test came back negative and they did not have the virus. The two individuals who had the MERS virus have been released from the hospital.

The first known case of MERS was reported in 2012. According to the CDC, the majority of the cases came from Yemen and countries that are on the Arabian Peninsula.

The agency does not know the exact source of the MERS virus. However, the CDC has listed camels and bats as a possible source. MERS-CoV is part of the coronaviruses, which SARS comes under.

The CDC reported that the symptoms associated with MERS-CoV began showing within 2-14 days of an individual contracting the virus.

The virus attacks the respiratory system and causes the individual to have a fever at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as a cough and shortness of breath.

The infected person will sometimes become nauseated and began vomiting and having diarrhea. The CDC noted that a person with a severe case of MERS will get pneumonia and have kidney failure.

In this instance, people who tend to have a severe case of MERS have a pre-existing condition. The pre-existing conditions the CDC has identified are diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and a weak immune system.

The agency reported that 30% of the deaths that have occurred resulted when the infected person had another illness along with the virus.

According to the CDC, an infected person will sometimes have mild symptoms or no symptoms. And in this case, the individual tends to recover.




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