MERS CoV Symtoms & Prevention: Outbreak in the United States Unlikely, Claims Experts

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Due to the MERS outbreak in South Korea, many Americans are worried about the virus entering the United States.

According to The Orange County Register, there are over 150 cases of people infected with MERS in South Korea, with a total of 16 deaths related to the virus. The MERS outbreak in the Asian country is currently the largest outside the Middle East.

According to the Los Angeles Times, many Americans are cancelling their trips to South Korea for fear of contracting the disease. Chris Chang, manager at Hanna Tour USA, said that around 20 to 30 percent of people have cancelled their flights and tours in South Korea already.

"It's their choice. It has to do with safety, so we're not going to tell them they are or aren't going to get the disease," said Chang.

Jeff Lee, director at the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, stated that the annual trip to South Korea for American-born Koreans was cancelled due to panicking parents.

Lee added that the trip usually consists of second- or third-generation Korean-Americans in their teens. More than 30 parents, out of the 50 kids who were supposed to go on the trip, pulled out their children. Apparently, relatives from Korea had dissuaded the parents from sending their children to South Korea due to the MERS outbreak.

Meanwhile, those who have not cancelled their trips to the Asian country are taking certain measures such as buying plenty of health products for protection against the infection. According to Angel Lee, a pharmacist who owns Woori Pharmacy, many customers traveling to South Korea, are stocking up on masks and hand sanitizes.

Even though it is the largest outbreak outside of the Middle East, experts say that the possibility of contracting the MERS-CoV virus is not high, even if people travel to South Korea.

According to the LA Times, experts say that the virus is contained within Korean healthcare facilities. The only people infected with MERS were those who visited the healthcare facilities that the first infected patient visited.

In addition, the outside community in South Korea, as a whole, has not been infected by the virus.

Dr. Robert Quigley, regional medical director and senior vice president of medical assistance at International SOS, said, "We're really not seeing [MERS] transmitted in the community."

He explained why the disease is not spreading outside the healthcare facilities, saying: "They're washing their hands, they're wearing masks, they're covering their mouth. Those simple practices... can often be the difference between contracting a viral disease and not."