The Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine warned tourists about the circulation of the new MERS-CoV coronavirus in the countries of the Middle East. It causes Middle East respiratory syndrome, according to the website of the Ministry of Health.
It is indicated that in the period from January 1 to March 11, 2021, the World Health Organization recorded seven new cases of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia, three of which were fatal. Before that, cases of coronavirus were recorded in Oman, Qatar, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. Outside the Arabian Peninsula, single imported cases of the disease were recorded.
It is possible to get infected with this coronavirus as a result of direct or indirect contact with camels. The virus is transmitted from person to person, mostly only within the family.
The course of the disease can be asymptomatic, but it can also be accompanied by severe clinical manifestations: high temperature, cough and shortness of breath, pneumonia is often diagnosed.
To prevent MERS-CoV infection, Ukrainian tourists are advised to:
- avoid close contact with camels and other animals;
- avoid the use of raw camel milk or the use of meat without proper processing;
- refrain from visiting places of mass gathering of people;
- wash your hands regularly after touching animals and avoid contact with sick animals.
Earlier in Germany, scientists discovered substances that block COVID-19. Screening of potential molecules-inhibitors of the coronavirus made it possible to identify two promising classes of compounds.
