Hyderabad: A health worker from Saudi Arabia, who travelled to Orlando in the US, has tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, confirming the second case in the country. The spread from Saudi Arabia to the US is raising concerns as a total of 545 cases have been reported worldwide since the outbreak in 2012 and 145 deaths has been registered. The MERS virus was first found in Saudi Arabia.
While the virus is spreading slowly, alarm bells have started ringing here as well, as many people travel from Saudi to India in June, for the summer vacations.
The Centre issued guidelines directing those who have travelled from Saudi and show symptoms of cold, cough, severe body ache and pneumonia, to be screened for MERS. Professor of pulmonology and senior doctor at Chest Hospital, Dr Subhakar K, says, “The Centre has clearly stated that those who are coming from Saudi Arabia and are suffering from flu, continuous body ache, cough, cold or diagnosed with pneumonia must follow the first line of treatment. If the treatment fails, then the tests for H1N1 (swine flu), H7N9 (avian flu) and MERS must be conducted.”
While the spread of the virus is slow, the disease has proved to be fatal and that is what is worrying. Once the flu sets in and is identified as pneumonia, there have been cases of renal failure and multi-organ failure due to the load of the virus.
Dr I.M. Govardhan, general physician at Care, says, “In case of MERS, care-givers need to be careful. The spread may be slow, but those who are close to the patient are at a high risk as there is a possibility of transmission.” Hospitals and close relatives need to take extra care.”
In Saudi Arabia, the spread of disease started from hospitals as health care workers didn't take enough precautions. Apart from washing of hands, it is also important that objects around the patient are not touched with bare hands. Masks and gloves would help to control the virus, state experts.
The final attack is on the immune system, hence those who are strong recover, but for those suffering from underlying illnesses or the aged, the virus has proved fatal.
