Testing has provided a conclusive link showing that the MERS virus was transmitted to human through close contact with infected camels.

A study was conducted where swabs from the nose of a man who died from MERS and his nine camels. These swabs were then tested to see if the virus was present. Then full genetic comparisons were done and a match was made.

The man involved in the test was 44 years old and a former soldier. He had nine camels that he cared for and spent several hours each day swabbing the noses of them when they showed signs of sinus troubles. In Oct. of last year, the man came down with symptoms of his own. He was hospitalized in Nov. and died the same month.

Genetic testing confirms that both he and his camels had the same MERS virus.

The possibility of transmission between camels and humans has been suspected before, but this is the first conclusive proof that such an event has occurred. Transmission between humans has been well established, largely through health care workers being exposed to the virus and subsequently exposing others.

Since 2012, the virus has spread to 20 countries and infected over 680 people, killing as many as 282 people. The majority of the cases have been concentrated in Saudi Arabia and all, regardless of country, can be traced back to the Arabian peninsula.

Little is known about the virus. It is a coronavirus that has been found in humans, camels and bats. It has a high death rate that, incorporating recent data uncovering roughly 113 previously unknown cases in Saudi Arabia, has been shown to reach as high as 40 percent.

This new piece of information connecting camels to transmission to humans offers another measure of precaution that people can enact to protect themselves against this formidable infection. While the man tested did not clean the camels’ stables or participate in milking them, he did spent up to three hours daily treating runny noses and drank raw camel’s milk on a routine basis.

There is much need for rigorous further testing, but health officials assert that based on the knowledge at hand, people should exercise caution when dealing with animals. General hygiene habits are strongly encouraged and people are urged to exercise extreme caution if an animal appears to be ill.

It is also highly recommended that healthcare workers take precautionary measures with every patient, regardless of whether or not the patient is currently exhibiting any symptoms of infection. Symptoms do not always present themselves in the same way, some can be delayed or more mild than expected.