The Deadly Virus MERS Has Arrived In The US — Here's What You Need To Know

BI ^ | 5-18-2014 | Lauren F Friedman

[blam]

Lauren F Friedman
May 16, 2014, 1:01 PM

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), an often deadly respiratory illness that's related to the infamous SARS, first emerged in humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012. (Scientists believe it jumped from camels.) But since March 2014, there's been a sharp rise in the number of cases, including two recently diagnosed MERS patients in the United States.

"With more deaths in a single month than in the previous two years combined, no one is certain how people become infected," notes Marjorie P. Pollack, of ProMED-mail, and the virus has no vaccine or cure.

Here's what you should know about MERS — and why people around the world are watching it so closely.

There have been a minimum of 536 MERS cases and 145 deaths. That doesn't seem like a lot, but the vast majority have been reported since April:

mers chart cdc

The numbers reported on the more frequently updated MERS Corona Map are 594 infections and 178 deaths, though not all of those have been confirmed by international health organizations. The largest cluster of cases by far is in Saudi Arabia, with another large cluster in the United Arab Emirates.

MERS is spreading from its hub in the Arabian Peninsula.

mers world map cdc

The presence of MERS has now been confirmed in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Just recently, the Netherlands and the United States joined this unfortunately growing list.

The CDC is taking note of the major points of entry for travelers coming from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates:

mers points of entry map cdc CDC/BioMosaic

(snip)

[Dallas59]

The will of Allah../s

[Gay State Conservative]

I was on the Arabian peninsula (the UAE and Oman) just a couple of months ago.While there I had brief contact with a couple of camels (careful,boys and girls,no scurrilous remarks).However,I feel fine so I strongly suspect that I'll be OK.

And BTW...that contact with camels came during a "desert safari"...a popular attraction for many Western tourists while there.

[Kozak]

And where exactly would you do that?

[Blue Highway]

If they did find out the virus was caused or originated from Islamists screwing their goats or camels, do you think the media would “protect all things Muslim” and LIE about the cause of the disease?

[Luke21]

Think the way they handled AIDS in the 80’s. That would be the media line.

[Cold Heart]

They are going to need a bigger dot.

[Raebie]

Preferably somewhere in the country they’ve been working before they get on a plane.

Easily accomplished by utilizing a hotel near an airport.

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

Hat-tip to Jane Long for the heads-up!

[Kozak]

So during that 2 weeks does the healthcare worker get quarenteened ?
Just health care workers?
What about everyone else?
How are they going to know it Is a health care worker? Maybe they aren’t willing to sit on their thumbs for 2 weeks and don’t give their occupation?

[blam]

"Eat more vitamin C. I don’t get the flu or colds anymore because I take 2,000 - 3,000mg of it a day."

I get better results with the Antibiotic Vitamin.

I take 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily....sick once (this winter) in 8 years.

[Raebie]

As the article states, healthcare workers are at the greatest risk for infection, so it makes sense to start with them.

If this gets worse and really starts spreading here, quaranteen before return should be a condition of employment. They already sign contracts.

[Iron Munro]

Somehow MERS crossed from camels to humans.

Somehow.....

Did you know that the Arabs actually drink camel urine?

They also wash their hair in it.

Then they come to America.

Saudi Boy Drinking Fresh Camel Urine
(Click for video)

Camel Urine Drinking In Islam
(Click for video)

Saudi Boy Drinking Fresh Camel Urine (Click for video) Camel Urine Drinking In Islam (Click for video)

Anas said, "Some people of 'Ukl or 'Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them. So the Prophet ordered them to go to the herd of (Milch) camels and to drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they went as directed and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away all the camels.

(Book #4, Hadith #234)

Saudi Woman Drawing A Fresh Steaming Cup

[blam]

"I suppose quaranteening returning healthcare workers for 2 weeks is too much to ask... "

I think a bigger problem will be when it is realized that JIHAD can be advanced against America by 'suicide virus carriers' streaming into the USA.

Jane, a bigger dot(S) indeed.

[Kozak]

Just pointing out it’s not as simple as you think.

[wtd]

Thanks for the update.
The like you posted finally mentions the MERS patient’s family is being tested. After all, reports of his infection state he arrived in the US ‘to visit with family’. Call me overly cautious, but I’d like to read some confirmation that he indeed was directly related to these ‘family’ members ... not just an opportunist with nefarious intentions visiting some distant ‘cousin of the nth degree’ who just happens to share ideological devotion.

[Raebie]

I don’t think it’s simple. I just don’t think it’s that hard either.

[Jane Long]

Yuck ~ that pic is disgusting.

Didn’t we recently read that camel milk is being used to treat autism?

[blam]

Silently among us: Scientists worry about milder cases of MERS

[logi_cal869]

Solution: Route all US-bound flights from the Arabian Peninsula to DC.

...

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Bump. Watching the U.S. come completely unglued due to stupid decisions or lack of decision at all.