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Source: http://www.thenational.ae/uae/healt...iced-during-haj-in-mecca-says-dubai-scientist
Ban on camels being sacrificed during Haj in Mecca, says Dubai scientist
Anam Rizvi
July 22, 2014 Updated: July 22, 2014 10:21 PM
DUBAI // Camels will not be sacrificed during this year?s Haj in Mecca in an attempt to stop the spread of the Mers coronavirus.
Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai, said he was part of a team that recommended the measures to the Saudi Arabian ministry of health.
A genetic link between the Mers found in humans and a similar disease in camels has been found, prompting scientists to believe that camels were the most likely source of transmission from animals to humans.
Dr Wernery is involved in a CVRL study of camel herds in the UAE to investigate the links.
In April, he attended the Global Centre for Mass Gathering Medicine conference in Riyadh, where he was part of a committee of health experts that proposed the camel ban to the Saudi ministry.
?We recommended that camels should not be sacrificed this year during Haj and the proposal was accepted,? said Dr Wernery. ?Camels can be sacrificed in other parts of the country but should not be done by the pilgrims during Haj.
?People are advised not to touch or embrace camels. One may click pictures of them but a distance of two to three metres should be maintained,? said Dr Wernery.
About 1.3 million animals ? camels, goats, sheep and cows ? are sacrificed during the Haj in Mecca...
Ban on camels being sacrificed during Haj in Mecca, says Dubai scientist
Anam Rizvi
July 22, 2014 Updated: July 22, 2014 10:21 PM
DUBAI // Camels will not be sacrificed during this year?s Haj in Mecca in an attempt to stop the spread of the Mers coronavirus.
Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai, said he was part of a team that recommended the measures to the Saudi Arabian ministry of health.
A genetic link between the Mers found in humans and a similar disease in camels has been found, prompting scientists to believe that camels were the most likely source of transmission from animals to humans.
Dr Wernery is involved in a CVRL study of camel herds in the UAE to investigate the links.
In April, he attended the Global Centre for Mass Gathering Medicine conference in Riyadh, where he was part of a committee of health experts that proposed the camel ban to the Saudi ministry.
?We recommended that camels should not be sacrificed this year during Haj and the proposal was accepted,? said Dr Wernery. ?Camels can be sacrificed in other parts of the country but should not be done by the pilgrims during Haj.
?People are advised not to touch or embrace camels. One may click pictures of them but a distance of two to three metres should be maintained,? said Dr Wernery.
About 1.3 million animals ? camels, goats, sheep and cows ? are sacrificed during the Haj in Mecca...