A fatal and untreatable virus that first showed up in Saudi Arabia, and that researchers and health officials know alarmingly little about, has made its way out of the Arabian Peninsula and into the global community. The Center for Disease Control confirmed the first case of the virus in the United States on Thursday.

The Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome is a viral respiratory illness. It is caused by a coronavirus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Most people who have been infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. Of the 401 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, 30 percent of those patients succumbed fatally to the virus.

This virus is a deadly one with no known antidote or treatment, and the CDC admits that health officials know little-to-nothing about it. According to the CDC website, neither their organization nor any other health experts around the globe know virtually anything about the disease aside from its alleged country of origin and reported fatality rate.

"MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact ... transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel have also been observed," the CDC said in a statement. "Clusters of cases in several countries are being investigated."

As noted earlier, the first confirmed case was identified in Saudi Arabia. The virus went on to spread through the Arabian Peninsula, infecting residents living in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Kuwait.

And then the disease went to the next level and took off.

Six additional countries around the world have also confirmed "travel-associated" cases of the virus. These countries include the United Kingdom, France, Tunisia, Italy, Malaysia and, most recently, the United States.

According to a press release issued by the CDC on Thursday, a man from Indiana had been traveling abroad in several countries, one of which included Saudi Arabia. In late April, this individual travelled by plane from Saudi Arabia to London, England and then onto Chicago, Ill. He then returned by bus to his home state of Indiana.

Three days after arriving in Indiana, the patient began to experience respiratory symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing and fever. The following day he was admitted into a nearby hospital and was admitted. Because of this patient's symptoms and recent travel history, he was tested at the hospital for MERS-CoV, and a positive test result was confirmed by both hospital physicians and the CDC on Thursday.

According to officials, neither the CDC nor Indiana health authorities know how the patient became infected with the MERS-CoV virus. It's been hypothesized that the infection occurred in Saudi Arabia because of the high number of cases being reported there. This hypothesis has not yet been confirmed, however, and as such, United States health experts have no idea how many people the man may have been in close enough contact with to transfer the virus himself.

"We've anticipated MERS reaching the United States, and we've prepared for and are taking swift action," said CDC Director Tom Frieden. "We're doing everything possible with hospital, local and state health officials to find people who may have had contact with this person so they can be evaluated as appropriate ... This case reminds us that we are all connected by the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. We can break the train of transmission in this case through focused efforts here and abroad."

However, officials both here and overseas say they have not yet figured out where the virus even came from or how it emerged on the international scene. They also admit they know very little about how it spreads. The news just gets more bleak as these same officials confirms there is neither a vaccine to cure the virus, nor any type of specific treatment plan for combatting it.

CDC said it has been working toward dealing with this mystery disease for at least two years.

"In this interconnected world we live in, we expected MERS-CoV to make its way to the United States," Frieden said. "We have been preparing since 2012 for this possibility."

Frieden's admission may come off as alarming to some, considering his renowned organization still knows so little.

Check back with Latin Post for more updates if and when further information becomes available.

-----

For the latest news & updates, follow reporter Bary Alyssa Johnson on Twitter: @MissBary

Related