MIDDLE EAST
RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS INFECTION CONFIRMED IN NORTHWESTERN INDIANA
Governor Pence Deploys Full
Resources of Indiana State Department of Health
INDIANAPOLIS—
A case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been
confirmed in a patient in Northwestern Indiana today by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. The Indiana State Department of Health is working with
CDC and others to identify potential additional cases and to prevent further
transmission of the disease. This is the first case of MERS-CoV in the United States.
MERS-CoV
is viral respiratory illness which was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Health officials do not know where the virus came from or exactly how it
spreads. There is no available vaccine or specific treatment recommended for
the virus. While MERS-CoV has been shown to spread in hospitals, there is
currently no evidence of sustained spread of MERS-CoV in community settings.
“I
want to assure every Hoosier that we have deployed the full resources of the
Indiana State Department of Health to engage in tracking this case, assessing
the risk to the public, and working to prevent the spread of this virus,” said
Governor Pence. “We are working in cooperation with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and encourage those who may have been exposed to this
virus to report any symptoms to their medical provider and take all necessary
precautions. Further, I commend Community Hospital in Munster, their staff and
physicians for their swift professionalism in diagnosing and addressing this case.”
On
April 24, the patient traveled by plane from Saudi Arabia to London, England
then from London to Chicago, Illinois. The patient then took a bus from Chicago
to Indiana. On the 27th, the patient began to experience increasing respiratory
symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, and fever. The patient
visited the Emergency Department at Community Hospital in Munster on April 28
and was admitted that same day.
The
patient is being well cared for, is isolated and is in stable condition.
Because of the patient’s symptoms and travel history, physicians at the
hospital decided a MERS-CoV test was appropriate.
Community
Hospital in Munster has contacted all high-risk individuals. In an abundance of
caution, individuals who visited the Emergency Department (ED) of Community
Hospital in Munster between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on April 28, 2014 should
watch for signs and symptoms. If you visited the ED during this time and begin
experiencing symptoms, please call your healthcare provider and let them know
about your possible exposure to MERS-CoV.
The
symptoms of MERS-CoV are similar to the symptoms of influenza, and include:
·
Congestion
·
Cough
·
Fever
over 100.4
·
Shortness
of breath
·
Pneumonia
·
Body
aches
·
Diarrhea
Although
the MERS-CoV infection is not easily spread from person-to-person, close
contacts of people with MERS-CoV can develop infections.
“We are
doing everything in our power to work with the hospital, federal and other
state partners, as well as the local health department to track and contain
this disease in Indiana,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess,
M.D.
If you do not have
any of the symptoms, you can continue with your daily activities, such as going
to work, school, or other public areas.
To help
prevent the spread of MERS-CoV to other people, CDC advises that people follow
these tips:
·
Wash
your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do
the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
·
Cover
your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the
tissue in the trash.
·
Avoid
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
·
Avoid
close contact, such as kissing, sharing cups, or sharing eating utensils, with
sick people.
·
Clean
and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
The
Indiana State Department of Health has established a hotline for Hoosiers to
call with questions. The hotline will be open seven days a week until further
notice from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The number is 1-877-826-0011.
For more
information, please visit the websites below.
·
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome:
·
About Coronavirus:
·
Frequently Asked MERS Questions and Answers:
·
Indiana Department of Health