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The latest gene sequencing indicates no change in the virus, so presumably the spike in cases is due to some other cause.
HOWEVER, it appears the samples were from cases that predated the current spike. How the samples were collected is also in question, with the possibility that they were NOT from victims of the current spike in cases.
So... there is currently no medical confirmation of anything new with this virus, but that may not mean a lot.
But there is no denying the big unexplained spike in cases. Based on my lying eyes, something has changed. We just don't know what.
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If MERS has suddenly become significantly more transmissible, then we could easily have another SARS type situation on our hands.
Thus far it appears the known MERS cases outside Saudi Arabia are quarantined and the virus is not loose in the world at large.
IF the virus has become easily transmissible, and this new version gets loose outside Saudi Arabia (Egypt?), then it will be clear fairly soon. It is way too soon to push the panic button. But this is certainly something to keep an eye on.