Five facts you must know about MERS infection

South Korea on Monday recorded its sixth death and biggest single day jump in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infections, with 23 new cases. The latest fatality was an 80-yr-old man who died in Daejeon. From just four cases two weeks ago, the total number of infections now stands at 87.

1. What is MERS?

It is a viral respiratory illness and was fi rst reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Over 20 countries have been affected by MERS. It is considered to be a deadlier but less infectious cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

2. What is the source of the virus?

We don’t know for certain where the virus came from, but it likely came from an animal. In addition to humans, the virus has been found in camels. It is possible that some people became infected after contact with camels

3. What are the symptoms and complications?

Most people confi rmed to have MERS have had severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some people also had gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea and nausea/vomiting. For others, more severe complications followed, such as pneumonia and kidney failure

4. How is it transmitted?

Like other coronaviruses that includes the common cold and SARS, it is thought to spread from an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as through coughing. However, the precise ways the virus spreads are not currently well understood. The virus has no vaccine as yet

5. How bad is the situation in South Korea?

South Korea has put 2,500 people under quarantine and shut nearly 1,900 schools — mostly in Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi province. Hundreds of public events, school trips and sporting fi xtures have been cancelled, with movie theatres, theme parks and shopping malls reporting big drops in the number of customers