PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM THE MERS DISEASE

It is important that you know some things first, before we move on to the preventive measures. The question that should first come to your mind here is WHY SHOULD I PROTECT MYSELF?

#1: It is not yet fully understood how people become infected with the MERS‐CoV.

#2: The source of the MERS-CoV is not yet fully clear. Only a few animals (e.g camels) have been suspected to be possible reservoirs.

#3: No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.

The MERS-CoV can be transmitted from animals to humans (though this is not yet fully understood). However, the virus does not appear to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as providing unprotected care to an infected patient.

PREVENTION

As earlier stated, for now, no vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.

But as a general precaution:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, or sharing cups or eating utensils, with sick people.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as door handles.

• The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, carries a high risk of infection from a variety of organisms that might cause disease in humans. So proper processing of animal products before consumption is to be upheld.

• The WHO advises that until more is understood about MERS-CoV, people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from MERS-CoV infection. These people should avoid contact with camels, drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked.

• Anyone visiting farms, markets, barns, or other places where camels and other animals are present should practice general hygiene measures, including regular hand washing before and after touching animals, and should avoid contact with sick animals. This should be done to young children too. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Most importantly, maintaining good hygiene in the environment, and within the house is very important.

You prevent yourself from getting 'infected' by observing these precautions, but you prevent yourself from getting 'affected' by sharing this information, and passing the knowledge across.

Read MERS, THE NEWEST PLAGUE IN TOWN, to learn more about the disease.

#STAYHEALTHY 

#STAYALIVE