A new death reported in Ryhadh, Saudi Arabia, could bring to light yet another SArs like virus, believed to be closely related to the MERS virus, or a mutated strain of the same, that has already killed 63 people in the middle East.
The newest victim, a young man of 19 died quickly in the city of Al-Kharj. What is more worrisome, two of the same family members are also ill. Two sisters are hospitalized and are suspected of being infected with the same novel strain of the virus. If the tests prove that the two sisters are indeed infected with the new strain, it would raise alarms of a possible mutation that allows human to human transmission.
The WHO has also reported three more cases as confirmed cases two days ago, catalouged under the MERS virus. These three cases, published on 3.12.2014, are unrelated to the 19 year old who died, and are believed to be of the known MERS virus.
That would bring the total of 6 cases in the past few days, if confirmed. But the 19 year old victim and his two sisters, represent a possible change in the virus, and could be classified as a different strain altogether.
Recent studies have revealed that as many as 74% of camels in Saudi Arabia are carriers of the MERS coronavirus, although they are not believed to be the natural reservoir for the virus.
In fact there are some who believe that evidence of the infection in the camel population goes back 20 years. This development is reminiscent of how the HIV virus made its way through the zoonotic barrier to the human population, with first cases probably recorded decades before the HIV virus reached the global population.
Only dromedaries, or single hump camels, are infected with the virus. The virus in the camels, furthermore, is identical to that found in humans.
Young camels were found to have genetic evidence of infection, with most of the virus residing in the mucous lining of the camel's nose. The researchers advice that people not nuzzle or come in contact with the camel's nose. However, aerial transmission of the virus is the more probable mode of infection, even though that discovery does not tell researchers exactly how humans actually contract the disease.
Some researchers have advanced the notion of vaccinating the camels en masse to prevent spread of the disease. However, the virus is already believed to be circulating in the human population in some form.
Partial sources: The chart/ CTV/ Cidrap: 3.14.14
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