Could this be a repeat of the 2003 SARS outbreak that killed 800 people in 30 countries? The World Health Organization is reporting that a SARS-like virus has infected 6 people in the middle-east. 2 of those people have died.
SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) has similar symptoms of pneumonia – coughing and difficulty breathing. The scientific name for this new virus is HCoV-EMC.
It’s unclear if the latest virus is being transmitted from person-to-person and the WHO is trying to pin-point how it is transmitted. However, 2 cases were from family members who lived together in Saudi Arabia. That fact points to the virus being transmitted between people.
I’m not quick to assume this is an epidemic in the making, but this is similar to how the SARS outbreak began in 2003, eventually infecting 8,000 people. 10% of those infected died. The Hungary based RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service has classified the latest infections as an “Epidemic Hazard.”
Nobody really knows how far this virus has already spread. But, the WHO is strongly suggesting that patients with unexplained symptoms of pneumonia be tested for this virus, regardless of where they reside or their travel history.
This is definitely something we should all be monitoring.