On May 11, 2014, the second US imported case of MERS was confirmed in Florida with a traveler from Saudi Arabia. The first US case was May 2, 2014 in Indiana with another traveler from Saudi Arabia. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a zoonotic viral respiratory disease first reported in 2012, with a likely reservoir in camels. MERS is a coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory illness with fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The mortality rate for MERS is >30% and the virus is known to be spread through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. There is currently no evidence of community spreading.
Public health officials have contacted healthcare workers, family members, and travelers who had close contact with the patient and none of them has had evidence of being infected with MERS. The CDC and other public health officials continue to monitor the changing situation to prevent the spread of MERS in the US.
Read the full CNN article about the first case HERE.
Read the full CDC Features article about the first case HERE.
Read the full CDC MERS website HERE.
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