Is MERS the new SARS?

The report over the weekend of the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus contracted in the U.S. is, for many, bringing back memories of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic of 2003, when surgical masks were everywhere and talks of quarantine ruled the day.

MERS, like SARS, is potentially deadly: 30 percent of people who have contracted it—mostly in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula—so far have died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking it very seriously, posting warning signs in 22 airports across the country where travelers from the Middle East are most likely to arrive, and telling customs agents to be alert for ill passengers on U.S.-bound flights.

In the case reported over the weekend, an Illinois man tested positive for the virus after spending time with a health care worker who had brought the illness back from Saudi Arabia. The Illinois man has so far reported no symptoms, and the health care worker has recovered and left the hospital.

Our health experts say that there is no need to panic, but agree that the caution is prudent. "Currently, the risk in this country is low," Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports chief medical adviser, said. "But with thousands of people arriving daily on flights from countries where the infection rate is high, the situation could change quickly."

Read more about staying healthy when you travel.

Like other respiratory viruses, the MERS virus is transmitted by close person-to-person contact. It appears to cause more severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease. There is currently no vaccine available to prevent the MERS virus.

If you're planning a trip to the Middle East you don't need to change travel plans, according to the CDC. But you should take commonsense steps to avoid infections—such as hand washing and avoiding contact with people who are ill—especially if you visit or work in health care settings. Also seek medical care if you experience symptoms, including fever, coughing, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, or abdominal pain or nausea, within 14 days of your return.

—Chris Hendel