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10 things you must know about MERS

Contents

The Ministry of Health & Welfare released on June 4 a list of ten things that people should know about the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

 

1) Definition

The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is caused by the coronavirus. The first known case was in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

 

 2) Symptoms

 Symptoms can include fever, coughing and difficulties breathing. There can also be short breaths as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

 

 3) Vector of infection

 Symptoms can begin to emerge within 2 to 14 days after infection. The disease is not contagious until the appearance of its symptoms.

 

 4) Transmission

 Patients infected by the syndrome can possibly transfer the virus and cause an infection in others by coughing or sneezing within 2 meters of the person.

 

 5) Prevention

 Wash your hands as often as possible. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and lips with unsanitized hands. When coughing, cover your nose and lips with a disposable tissue. Stay away from people who have a fever or who are coughing.

 

 6) Self-Quarantine

 If you have had a close contact with MERS patients, you should get in touch with your public health care center, even if no symptoms have yet emerged. You may also wish to keep yourself away from your family or coworkers for as long as 14 days.

 

 7) Treatment

 You need to receive medical treatment if you have either had contact with a MERS patient, recently visited the Middle East within the past 14 days or show any of the related symptoms.

 

 8) Diagnosis

 MERS can be diagnosed by RT-PCR, a technique that identifies the gene from saliva or phlegm, or from lavage fluid tested for bronchus.

 

 9) Remedy

 Patients will be given appropriate treatment depending on their symptoms. Those who need intensive care may need an artificial respirator and hemodialysis.

 *Those with no symptoms and no fever for 48 hours, or those who received negative results from their gene diagnosis twice per day can be discharged from the hospital.

 

 10) Equipment

 A medical team must take care of sanitization and be equipped with disposable gowns, gloves, N95 masks and eye protectors.

Ministry of Health & Welfare 

http://www.mw.go.kr/front_new/al/sal0301vw.jsp?PAR_MENU_ID=04&MENU_ID=0403&page=1&CONT_SEQ=322975

(Korean)

Source: Korea.net

MERS Hotline 

Busan Metropolitan City ☎ 051-888-3333

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  ☎043-719-7777