Despite the increasing number of deaths in South Korea and Middle East, the World Health Organizations does not define the spread of the MERS virus as a global emergency.
Here are seven facts:
1. The virus has infected more than 160 individuals, becoming the largest outbreak outside the Arabian peninsula.
2. A United Nations health agency referred to the epidemic a "wake-up" call, warning all countries to prepare for the potential outbreaks of MERS.
3. Keji Fukuda, assistant director-general of WHO, stated officials do not understand the MERS situation well in terms of transmission. Officials simply do not know if it is spread by people without symptoms or if certain environmental factors accelerate transmission.
4. Since 2012, 458 people have died with 19 fatal cases in South Korea. Despite these figures, Mr. Fukuda claims there is no proof MERS has mutated into a more dangerous form in South Korea.
5. Camels are the only reported animal reservoir for the disease, although other animal reservoirs could exist. WHO advises people who have contact with camels to not drink camel milk or urine. People are recommended to only consume well-cooked camel meat.
6. More than two dozen countries have reported cases of MERS with the majority of infections mostly occurring in those who had close contact with MERS patients. A small number of cases have been reported among people in respiratory droplets such as coughing.
7. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, states major problem will arise if the outbreak is not stopped in the Middle East and if outbreaks occur in the inner cities of one of the developing world mega-cities like Lagos of Kinshasa.
For more on infection control:
New cases of Ebola proves virus is still active — 5 notes
5 key notes on South Korea's MERS outbreak
10 ways a gut feeling may spark immune response
