The Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a rising
threat to the whole world’s health security. It is considered a new epidemic. It is a fatal
respiratory disease with an elevated death rate. In humans, it produces low respiratory
tract infections. The virus originated from bats but serological studies were conducted.
The evidence of the studies proved that the antibodies of the MERS-CoV were reported
in the camels of the Middle Eastern countries that first tested positive for the virus.
Thus, these camels were considered the hosts of the MERS-CoV. MERS-CoV may be
an animal disease virus that may cause secondary human infections. Camelus
dromedarius camels are known as the host. Symptoms include fever (98%), shortness
of breath (72%), cough (83%), and myalgia (32%). Other symptoms were also seen:
26% of patients had diarrhea and 21% had vomiting. Diagnosis consists of
nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, tracheal aspirates, and broncho alveolar lavage. There
is no vaccine or specific treatment for MERS-CoV, although many vaccines and
treatments for the virus are being developed. The patient's health condition determines
the type of treatment. The ongoing advancement of technologies to systematically and
reliably diagnose asymptomatic MERS-CoV infections will shed light on the virus's
true prevalence in the human population.
Keywords: Camels, Diagnosis, Origin, Respiratory disease, Symptoms, Vaccine.