If you’ve turned on almost any news source, chances are you’ve gotten an earful and a half about the death of Thomas Duncan–the first human life lost to Ebola on American soil. Recent figures suggest the death toll of the savage virus have topped 3,500 in West Africa. 

As if Ebola was not sufficiently catastrophic, the ever-vigilant personnel of the World Health Organization have issued concerns over possible outbreaks of the equally wretched Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, or MERS for short.

Many West African countries’ emergency resources are being depleted in efforts to contain Ebola. Now experts worry that many in the reason will not be adequately prepared for the seasonal flare-up of MERS in the early half of 2015.

It seems we should be worried too.