CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists leading the fight against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome say the next critical front will be understanding how the virus behaves in people with milder infections, who may be spreading the illness without being aware they have it.
Establishing that may be critical to stopping the spread of MERS, which emerged in the Middle East in 2012 and has so far infected more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia alone. It kills about 30 percent of those who are infected.
There may be “superspreaders”, like SARS.
Note: MERS involves both respiratory difficulties as well as gastric distress (vomit & diarrhea). There are certain cultures that either are not familiar with Western toilets, or manage to enforce dhimmitude to accomodate their preferences.
Over the last decade or so of reading of the cultural impact to Western nations,. . .toileting habits/preferences is just one of the unsavory & disturbing issues.
There are prior reports about the condition of local toilets because certain cultures would wash their feet in public restroom sinks . . .as well as stand on the toilet seat to squat to defecate/urinate.
Now consider the impact MERS adds to this mess.
Recall the second patient spent 4-8 hours in the hospital waiting area. As a health care worker, MERS was not suspected for the first 4 hours. MERS symptoms would have made it necessary to be near a public restroom while he was waiting -- how many MERS victims will be sharing public restrooms prior to diagnosis and medical isolation?