DEARBORN — The Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services (ACCESS) is warning locals who have recently traveled to the Middle East about a growing viral respiratory illness called MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) that has, so far, claimed the lives of 47 people and made close to 100 others ill.

ACCESS is urging locals, who have recently returned from the Middle East, and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath, to immediately see a doctor. Furthermore, if one is experiencing these types of symptoms, they are urged to avoid any sort of close contact with other humans and are encouraged to wear a mask to the doctor’s office.

According to health officials, the MERS outbreak appears to have started about 15 months ago in a small village in Saudi Arabia, where the first victim came in close contact to the feces of a tom bat that was carrying a form of a Coronavirus, a similar virus to that of the 2003 SARS pandemic that killed over 800 people across the globe.

While the tom bat does not typically bite humans, or come near human food supplies, it is very likely that the virus had become airborne through other animals and insects that may have come in close contact with infected bat feces. According to the Columbia University’s Center for Infection and Immunity, the first victim was a wealthy 60-year-old man, who owned a paint warehouse with a large garden that often attracted insects, which were sought after by bats.

The team of researchers, led by Dr. Ian Lipkin of Columbia University, has already collected about 100 fecal samples from seven species of bats, living in three locations in the Middle East, in order to determine how far the virus has spread among bats, and whether it is likely to infect a large amount of animals. Researchers believe that if the virus has spread to other animals, such as sheep, cows or camels, then those animals are more likely to transfer it to a human, than a bat would.

The Tom bat is believed to be the root of the virus going airborne.

What researchers do know is that some camels have already been infected by the virus. In the early stages of the research, camels infected with MERS had been discovered before bats. Many doctors were led to believe that the camel had been the root of the virus, before further research suggested that it had come from the bat species. Along with bats, a sample of camels, goats, sheep and cows are now also being tested for the virus.

While it is not known exactly how the disease would transfer to a human, nesting areas of bats, or nesting areas of other suspected animals that may be infected by the virus, are believed to be the most likely path of contact with humans. 

It seems the virus may have already traveled outside of the Middle East region as well. While the tom bat is most likely to stay in the northeast region of Africa and in the southwest region of Asia, some people who have recently traveled to those areas have ended up taking the virus back to their home countries. The MERS virus has already been confirmed among humans in the countries of Britain, France and Jordan, although the outbreaks have been able to be contained to just immediate families being infected, due to close contact.

There are also reports that it may have already infected animals in both Iran and China, although no humans have been reported to be infected in those regions.

According to the Lipkin research, the virus doesn’t appear to affect everyone in the same manner. Some of those who were infected with the virus appear to have had minimal reaction and have been able to fight it off easily. Those who were more severely affected by the virus appeared to have already been sick, or have a weaker immune system. The virus appears to be especially dangerous to people who already have diabetes or kidney disease. Many of the victims killed by the virus suffered flu-like symptoms that progressively got worse for weeks.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for MERS, but medical care is supportive in helping relieve some of the symptoms. ACCESS is urging locals to take preventive measures, by washing hands often and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching of the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with others who are sick, through kissing, sharing cups, or sharing the same eating utensils.

Meanwhile, officials in Saudi Arabia are telling anyone with a chronic disease, or immune deficiency, to delay their pilgrimage to Hajj later this year, if they plan on going. Last year, after the MERS outbreak, over 15 million people traveled to Mecca in October, including five million from outside of Saudi Arabia. The good news is that not a single case of the MERS Coronavirus was reported during that time period. However, it will be mandatory for the region to take preventive measures this year, as millions of Muslims are already preparing their journey there.

ACCESS’ Infectious Disease Prevention Program will be running an ad in The Arab American News for the next four weeks to warn locals, who have recently returned from the Middle East and exhibit flu-like symptoms, to seek immediate medical attention.

David Ponsart, the Supervisor of the Infectious Disease Prevention Programs at ACCESS says they will be doing a series of soon to be announced presentations in the month of September to reach out to not just the Arab community, but other Muslim and non-Arab speaking communities in the area who may be going to Hajj this fall.

“We will be doing a series of community conversations and educational presentations, so that people take basic precautionary measures as we head into the season where everyone begins to travel overseas. The most important thing we want to get across is for locals to protect themselves,” Ponsart says. “The virus may never come to the U.S., but if it does, at least we’ll be ready.” 

For more information on MERS, or to read an Arabic instruction manual that educates people about the virus, visit www.accesscommunity.org/mersvirus.