po- ct 9
lolo1339
M9-policy-MiddleEastRespiratorySyndromeCoronavirusMER3.pptxMIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS (MER) IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
1
INTRODUCTION
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is basically a viral respiratory illness.
In the Middle East, coronaviruses are very common and in most cases they cause colds upper respiratory infection.
In some cases, the illness can cause severe illness
Although MERS is related to SARS, the two are not the same.
In 2012, Saudi Arabia became the very first nation to report about MERS-CoV
To properly understand the security threats imposed by an infectious disease, one should first understand the disease itself first. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome as a coronaviruses type of disease that first identified in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia back in 2012.Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). For typical MERS symptoms, one may experience fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory., United States., National Institutes of Health (U.S.), & United States; 2016). Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.Some laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection are reported as asymptomatic, meaning that they do not have any clinical symptoms, yet they are positive for MERS following a laboratory test.
2
MERS THREATS
One way in which MERS is contracted is through contact with an infected person. This therefore makes it easy for uninfected person to contact the disease. For instance, a health care personal may contact it while trying to treat at.
The people that are readily affected by MERS are those that are the most venerable in the society. These include; infants and children, the elderly people, and the pregnant women
The rate at which MERS spreads from one individual to another, is excessively high to that it has gained attention of the entire world. The disease has server threats as it mostly affects the most venerable people in our community(O'Keefe; January 01, 2016). These include; infants and children, the elderly people. it is however feared that most of these asymptomatic cases might not have been detected despite the numerous aggressive contact tracing of laboratory repots. On an estimate, about 35% of all reported patients with MERS have ended up died.
3
CONT-D
The other threat with MERS is that the infection has very high rates of attacking.
Currently, the infection has no defensive drug or vaccine available. This means a person moving from an area that is not infected to an area that is infected is likely to contract the illness. Such a person has not defensive steps to take
The most feared thereat with MER is that currently there are no vaccines that would prevent one from contracting the virus. An individual moving to an infected region would definitely contract MER virus. Although MERS virus does not pass easily form one person to another, it would however pass readily when there is close contact. Close contact can be in a family, at work, at school, in public transports, as well as any other place that has a gathering. Healthcare officials are also affected when providing care to their patients(Al-Tawfiq, & Memish; January 01, 2014). Health care associated outbreaks have occurred in several countries, with the largest outbreaks seen in Saudi Arabia.
4
PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES
Due to the numerous unknowns that surround MERS, the world Health Organization (WHO) identified the virus as a threat to the world.
In some cases when MERS patient visited a hostile, healthcare officials took steps to contact healthcare workers, travelers, and family members that had had a close contact with the patient. In most instances this has proven to be effective
For every MERS case, public health does a comprehensive investigation on the sources. This investigation is supervised by Saudi Arabia’s ministry of agriculture since dromedaries are involved. Currently, Saudi Arabia’s ministry has managed to identify as well as to follow up healthcare workers and household contacts of patients known to have suffered from MERS(Reina, J., & Reina, N; December 01, 2015). Other than contacting travelers, health officials recommend that a patient must call the doctor before a medical appointment is made. Such a move helps the doctor to setup measures to protect the other patients from getting infected.
5
CONT-D
When suspecting to be infected with MERS virus, health care officials recommend that a patient should call the doctor before a medical appointment is made. This helps the doctor to setup measures to protect his/her other patients from getting infected.
Since its outbreak back in 2012, healthcare officials are constantly trying to find a vaccine for MERS illness. Though the right vaccine is yet to be found, steps are definitely being taken.
The threats of this disease are so high that the WHO identified it as being a threat to the world. Health officials have been taking steps to reduce the spread of the virus. Some of these steps include; contacting people that might have travelled with an infected person. The MERS virus has high likely hood of causing severe diseases that would result in high mortality rate(O, K. L. C. ;January 01, 2016). In some cases, people are infected by the MERS virus when they come into direct contact with dromedary camels. The MERS virus has proven to be able to transmit from one person to another.
6
SECURITY INITIATIVES
With the unpredictable transmission rates of MERS virus, there are various security measures that should be taken so as to prevent a further spread of the virus. These include;
A MERS patient should stay at home. Such a person is restricted any activities outside the house except when seeking medical attention.
MERS should not go to school, work, or any other public area. Similarly, such a person should also not use public transportation
MERS clearly has high rates of transmissions. For this reasons patients are expected stay inside their houses at all times. A patient should not attend school, work or any other place where there are many people(Al-Tawfiq & Memish; January 01, 2014). ). As a general precaution from contacting MERS virus, an individual visiting barms, markets, firms, or any other place where dromedary camels and other such animals are present is required to practice general hygienic measures.
7
CONT-D
While at home, an MERS patient should also separate himself from other family members as much as possible. Such a person should at all times stay in a different room from other people.
Wearing facemasks is also an effective preventive measure that should be taken. This is particularly so when an MERS patient is in the same room with other people.
Some hygienic measures that should be taken include; washing hands regularly before and after you have touched an animal, also a healthy individual should try and avoid close contact with a sick animal. When at home MERS patients are advised not to share the same room with the rest of their family members. If possible, they should even not share the same wash rooms(Memish & Al-Tawfiq, 2014). Generally, MERS patients should avoid mixing with uninfected people until they have completely healed.
8
POTENTIAL POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC DISRUPTIONS
The country’s tourism industry may lily be affected since some tourist may fear contacting MERS virus. Therefore, Saudi Arabia may potentially be disrupted economically.
Three years since its outbreak in 2012, there been more than 1300 cases related to MERS and more than 450 deaths particularly so in Saudi Arabia. With such significant numbers, it may become difficult for foreign heath officials to come in and help.
With its great impacts, MEDS has high chances of bringing disruptions to a country. These disruptions might be political, social, or even economically. For just three years since it emerged, MED killed close to 500 people left 1300 other still infected. Countries, whether or not MERS cases have been reported in them, are likely to start spending millions of their tax payers’ money to maintain a high level of vigilance, especially those with large numbers of travelers or migrant workers returning from the Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia(O'Keefe, 2016). This would likely affect the economy of the nation
9
RESOURCES NEEDED
Currently, the only sure way to properly deal with MERS is for healthcare officials to consistently provide awareness of the illness. This would help detecting patients that need evaluations.
To do this various resources are needed such as; Clinical presentation of the virus and the media
The best way to deal with MERS as at now, is to increase its awareness to everybody. Some of the resources needed to sensitize this awareness include, the media among others(Lee, Kim, Lim, Jee, Jang, Joh, Jeong, Chin; December 01, 2016). To continue enhancing the dangers of MERS, the World Health Organization suggests the need to have adequate surveillance systems in place. In addition to this there should also be infection prevention and control procedures in health-care facilities.
10
CONCLUSION
MERS is certainly an infectious disease that has created creating security threats in Saudi Arabia as well as throughout the world. Despite this however, we can however take steps to prevent spreading it to other people.
For instance, one should avoid touching his/her eyes, mouth, and nose with dirty hands.
Surfaces that are frequently touched should be cleaned and disinfected frequently. These surfaces include; doorknobs and toys
Clearly, MERS needs urgent attention before many more people are affected. However, we still can take steps to prevent it from spreading further. Such steps include but not limited to avoiding touching one own eyes, mouth, and nose with dirty hands. In addition to that, Surfaces that are frequently touched should always be cleaned and frequently disinfected. It is important to always eat hygienic food(World Health Organization, January 01, 2013). People need to stop drink raw milk from their camel or drinking camel urine. Also, people should only eat meat that has been cooked properly. It is also paramount that we all follow WHO’s advise in regards to MERS as well as any other disease for that matter.
11
REFERENCES
World Health Organization. (January 01, 2013). WHO statement on the third meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) =: Déclaration de l'OMS à l'issue de la troisième réunion du Comité d'urgence du RSI concernant le coronavirus du syndrome respiratoire du Moyen-Orient (MERS-CoV). Relevé Épidémiologique Hebdomadaire, 88, 40.)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory., United States., National Institutes of Health (U.S.), & United States. (2016). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Intra-Host Populations Are Characterized by Numerous High Frequency Variants. Washington, D.C: United States. Dept. of Energy.
Lee, J. Y., Kim, G., Lim, D.-G., Jee, H.-G., Jang, Y., Joh, J.-S., Jeong, I., ... Chin, B. S. (December 01, 2016). Seroprevalence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Among Healthcare Personnel Caring for Patients With Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in South Korea. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 37, 12, 1513-1514.
O'Keefe, L. C. (January 01, 2016). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Workplace Health & Safety, 64, 5, 184-6.
CONT-D
Memish, Z. A., & Al-Tawfiq, J. A. (January 01, 2014). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection control: the missing piece?. American Journal of Infection Control, 42, 12, 1258-60.
Al-Tawfiq, J. A., & Memish, Z. A. (January 01, 2014). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: transmission and phylogenetic evolution. Trends in Microbiology, 22, 10, 573-9.
O, K. L. C. (January 01, 2016). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Workplace Health & Safety, 64, 5, 184-186.
Reina, J., & Reina, N. (December 01, 2015). The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Medicina Clínica (english Edition), 145, 12, 529-531.
