This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/may/13/new-coronavirus-mers-cov
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New coronavirus – Q&A | New coronavirus – Q&A |
| (2 months later) | |
| How many cases of the new coronavirus have been reported? | How many cases of the new coronavirus have been reported? |
| According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77 people have been infected and it has been the likely cause of death for at least 40 people in the Middle East and Europe. But since those figures were issued one more person has died in the UK and two more in Saudi Arabia. The virus can be passed between humans, but only after prolonged contact. | |
| Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, says: "The WHO data do indicate probable human-to-human transmission. However, the circumstances are unusual – close contact in a hospital, and other patients co-housed with the index case did not become infected. This does not amount to human-to-human transmission 'on the street' so the risk remains very low. The most important goal remains to locate the source of infection so that measures to minimise contact can be taken." | Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, says: "The WHO data do indicate probable human-to-human transmission. However, the circumstances are unusual – close contact in a hospital, and other patients co-housed with the index case did not become infected. This does not amount to human-to-human transmission 'on the street' so the risk remains very low. The most important goal remains to locate the source of infection so that measures to minimise contact can be taken." |
| When did the new coronavirus emerge? | When did the new coronavirus emerge? |
| The first patient, confirmed last year, was a 60 year-old who died in Saudi Arabia. The second patient, a Qatari man who was 49 when he was admitted, first showed symptoms in September and the infection was confirmed by the Health Protection Agency's laboratories in Colindale, north London. He died at St Thomas's hospital in central London on 28 June. | |
| It has been suggested that the new virus should be called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Mers-CoV). | |
| Dr Siouxsie Wiles, a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at the University of Auckland, says that an interesting feature of MERS-CoV was that "the majority of infections have occurred within health care facilities, such as hospitals, as has just been reported in France. Those people were in hospital for a reason though, suggesting that some underlying disease may be required to make people more vulnerable to infection with [MERS-CoV]." | Dr Siouxsie Wiles, a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at the University of Auckland, says that an interesting feature of MERS-CoV was that "the majority of infections have occurred within health care facilities, such as hospitals, as has just been reported in France. Those people were in hospital for a reason though, suggesting that some underlying disease may be required to make people more vulnerable to infection with [MERS-CoV]." |
| What are coronaviruses? | What are coronaviruses? |
| They were first identified in the 1960s, and were named after the crown-like projections on the surface of the virus. They cause respiratory infections in both humans and animals. | They were first identified in the 1960s, and were named after the crown-like projections on the surface of the virus. They cause respiratory infections in both humans and animals. |
| What are the main symptoms? | What are the main symptoms? |
| There is very limited information on its impact, transmission and severity at this stage. In confirmed cases, patients had a fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. It is not known whether these symptoms are typical or whether the virus may be circulating more widely but causing milder illness. | There is very limited information on its impact, transmission and severity at this stage. In confirmed cases, patients had a fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. It is not known whether these symptoms are typical or whether the virus may be circulating more widely but causing milder illness. |
| What is the treatment? | What is the treatment? |
| Experts do not have enough information on the virus to make specific treatment recommendations, and can only provide acute respiratory support to those in hospital, the Health Protection Agency says. | Experts do not have enough information on the virus to make specific treatment recommendations, and can only provide acute respiratory support to those in hospital, the Health Protection Agency says. |
| How do you catch the infection? | How do you catch the infection? |
| Such viruses typically spread in a similar manner to the flu virus. The new coronavirus is therefore likely to be passed from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. | Such viruses typically spread in a similar manner to the flu virus. The new coronavirus is therefore likely to be passed from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. |
| What have we yet to learn about the virus? | What have we yet to learn about the virus? |
| According to a statement released by the WHO, a lot. "For example, how are people getting infected? Is it from animals? Is it from contaminated surfaces? Is it from other people? Finally, we don't know how widespread is this virus, both in [Middle East] region and in other countries." | |
| How contagious is it? | How contagious is it? |
| Transmission appears to be "very limited", says the Health Protection Agency: if it were very contagious, there would be more cases in more countries, as well as in those caring for the two British cases, the first of which happened more than four months ago. The incubation period is currently thought likely to be seven days. | |
| However, the agency says it is best to err on the side of caution. The Qatari man who died at St Thomas's hospital was being treated in strict isolation, and staff wore appropriate protective equipment and clothing, including respirators, goggles, gowns and gloves. | |
| Coronaviruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. The risk of UK residents contracting infection in the UK is very low. | Coronaviruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. The risk of UK residents contracting infection in the UK is very low. |
| Where has this virus come from? | Where has this virus come from? |
| No one knows. It may be a mutation of an existing virus. Some new infections come from viruses that have been circulating in animals or birds. These are known as zoonoses. These may sometimes cause mild infection in some species and more serious ones in others. There is no evidence at the moment that this is a zoonosis. | No one knows. It may be a mutation of an existing virus. Some new infections come from viruses that have been circulating in animals or birds. These are known as zoonoses. These may sometimes cause mild infection in some species and more serious ones in others. There is no evidence at the moment that this is a zoonosis. |
| Is there a vaccine? | Is there a vaccine? |
| No. | No. |
| Is there a laboratory test? | Is there a laboratory test? |
| Yes but it is complex, using a system know as PCR, which involves amplifying small pieces of DNA and then sequencing the genetic material. | Yes but it is complex, using a system know as PCR, which involves amplifying small pieces of DNA and then sequencing the genetic material. |
| What should I do if I am planning travel to the Middle East? | What should I do if I am planning travel to the Middle East? |
| Continue with your plans. The authorities are keeping travel advice under review, however. | Continue with your plans. The authorities are keeping travel advice under review, however. |
| If I visited the Middle East and have signs of a cold or fever, should I be worried? | If I visited the Middle East and have signs of a cold or fever, should I be worried? |
| If the symptoms are mild, you almost certainly have an infection caused by a common respiratory virus. However, if the symptoms worsen considerably and you become very breathless, contact your GP or NHS Direct, mentioning where in the Middle East you have travelled. Even in cases of severe respiratory illness, another, more common pathogen is a more likely diagnosis. | If the symptoms are mild, you almost certainly have an infection caused by a common respiratory virus. However, if the symptoms worsen considerably and you become very breathless, contact your GP or NHS Direct, mentioning where in the Middle East you have travelled. Even in cases of severe respiratory illness, another, more common pathogen is a more likely diagnosis. |
| Is this similar to Sars? | Is this similar to Sars? |
| Sars (a particularly severe form of pneumonia) was also caused by a coronavirus, but these viruses can cause a range of symptoms, from mild to serious. The confirmed cases have experienced a serious respiratory illness, which makes it similar to Sars in this respect. | Sars (a particularly severe form of pneumonia) was also caused by a coronavirus, but these viruses can cause a range of symptoms, from mild to serious. The confirmed cases have experienced a serious respiratory illness, which makes it similar to Sars in this respect. |
| • Source: Health Protection Agency, World Health Organisation | • Source: Health Protection Agency, World Health Organisation |