MERS-CoV: Teh Forgotten Coronavirus Remains More lethal Then SARS
geneva, Switzerland – While global attention has largely shifted from the COVID-19 pandemic, another coronavirus - Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - continues to pose a significant, adn arguably greater, threat to those infected. Though less contagious, MERS-CoV has a substantially higher mortality rate than the SARS-CoV virus that caused the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
MERS-CoV can cause a range of illness, from mild respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory illness and, in some cases, death. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Those most vulnerable to severe illness include the elderly,individuals with compromised immune systems,and people with chronic medical conditions. This ongoing risk underscores the need for continued surveillance and research,especially as new variants emerge and strain global health resources.
The World Health Association (WHO) reported 8,096 probable SARS cases worldwide between November 2002 and July 2003,resulting in 774 deaths – a mortality rate of 9.6%. In contrast, the WHO estimates that approximately 36% of patients diagnosed with MERS-CoV have died. Though, experts caution this figure likely underestimates the true mortality rate, as milder cases of MERS-CoV frequently enough go undetected by surveillance systems, and fatality rates are calculated only from laboratory-confirmed cases.
currently, there are no specific treatments or vaccines available to combat MERS-CoV, highlighting the urgent need for continued research and development in this area. MERS-CoV remains less contagious than SARS,but its higher lethality makes it a persistent concern for global public health officials.
