BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) released a fact sheet about the symptoms, transmission and prevention measures of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) lately.

The viral respiratory disease was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The origin of MERS is a novel coronavirus, a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Approximately 36 percent of reported patients with MERS have died, according to WHO statistics.

Between May 18 and 23, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of four additional cases of its infection, including one death.

The typical MERS symptoms listed by the WHO report include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported.

The route of transmission from animals to humans is not fully understood, but camels are likely to be a major reservoir host for MERS-CoV and an animal source of infection in humans, it said.

The virus does not seem to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as occurs when providing unprotected care to a patient. Human-to-human transmission appears to be more probable when infection prevention and control practices are inadequate.

As to prevention and treatment, it said no vaccine or specific treatment is currently available, and treatment is supportive and based on the patient's clinical condition.

WHO cautioned that anyone visiting farms, markets, barns, or other places where camels and other animals are present should practice general hygiene measures, including regular hand washing before and after touching animals, and should avoid contact with sick animals.

Animal products that are processed appropriately through cooking or pasteurization are safe for consumption, but should also be handled with care to avoid cross contamination with uncooked foods, it said.

(Agencies)