There have been two confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States. University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Dr. Mark Rupp is with the Internal Medicine Division and says while there is no need to panic it is something that health care professionals should monitor.
Rupp says the two cases here are unrelated. One was found in Florida and the other in Indiana. Both of the victims are healthcare workers who recently worked in and traveled from Saudi Arabia.
Rupp says while there is no real concern of a major outbreak here, health professionals are watching the situation carefully.
Rupp says the source hasn’t been identified but experts do not yet know exactly how this virus spreads. Public health officials are working to contain the spread of the virus that causes fever, cough and shortness of breath. There is no available vaccine or specific treatment for the virus at this time.
