MERS is NOT MRSA
Medical people love abbreviations. At their best they save time writing out long complicated terms. At their worst they are confusing and even panic inducing for the general public.
Today the news is full of a new virus called MERS. This stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It was first detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There have now been a couple of cases found here in the US. It is spread by close contact, such as being a care giver to someone with the virus or living with someone who is infected. Because it is a respiratory illness the virus most likely grows and is passed through nasal secretions or droplets from coughing or sneezing.
The first case in the US was diagnosed in Indiana May 2nd. The second case was diagnosed May 11th, two days ago, in Florida. The first patient has fully recovered however in cases world wide the death rate is about 30%. While there have bee 500 cases reported worldwide there is little risk at this time to the general population here in the US.
This virus is similar to the common cold virus and the more recently discovered SARS virus. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Untreated it can cause kidney failure, pneumonia with resultant deaths. There is no current lab test widely available for diagnosis but it is available through the CDC. Incubation time is 14 days from exposure to the appearance of symptoms.
As with most communicable diseases frequent hand washing is one of the best methods of prevention.
If it is so rare here in the US why am I talking about it? Because as with all new diseases it will be in the news. MERS and MRSA, a common bacterial infection sound a lot alike and look similar when written. This article is an attempt to clear up any confusion about the two diseases, educate you about a new disease, and reinforce how to best protect yourself from communicable diseases.
MRSA is an antibiotic resistant staph infection. It is usually acquired during a hospital or other health care setting stay, post surgery or IV therapy treatment. Other indications of the infection may appear like a pimple, boil or spider bite on the skin. This quickly becomes inflamed, hot and tender to the touch. It can spread rapidly and needs to be treated by a physician. Do not attempt to treat this type of infection on your own as it can become deep and very painful that may require treatment by removing some of the infected tissue.
MERS = a NEW respiratory VIRAL infection with fever, cough and shortness of breath. Rare in the US at this time.
MRSA = skin BACTERIAL infection with redness, infected boil like appearance. Wide spread and becoming more common in the US with overuse of antibiotics.
Both need immediate medical attention.