One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.windsorstar.com/health/year+later+MERS+virus+remains+largely+mystery/8918010/story.html

One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery
Helen Branswell, The Canadian Press | Sep 16, 2013 | Last Updated: Sep 16, 2013 - 5:01 UTC

Later this week ? Friday ? will mark a year since the world learned that a cousin of the SARS virus had burst out of some hiding spot in nature to infect and kill a man in Saudi Arabia. Since then, the world has learned of roughly 130 MERS cases, 57 of them fatal.

But in contrast to the SARS outbreak, at this point relatively little is known about MERS. With several million Muslim pilgrims descending on Saudi Arabia ? the hottest of MERS hot spots ? in coming weeks for the annual Hajj, there is a real sense of worry among scientists watching the outbreak.

Many scientists are at a loss to diplomatically explain the lack of progress...

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery

And yet, just a few days ago....

Saudi Arabia Minister of Health stressed the need to adhere to principles of transparency, honesty, and credibility

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: One year later, MERS virus remains largely a mystery

The Hajj is only a part of the problem, and media outlets should be aware of this.

Source: PLoS, http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/...ciation-with-mass-gatherings-in-saudi-arabia/

Potential for the International Spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Association with Mass Gatherings in Saudi Arabia

(...)

Results:

16.8 million travelers flew on commercial flights out of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates between June and November 2012, of which 51.6% were destined for India (16.3%), Egypt (10.4%), Pakistan (7.8%), the United Kingdom (4.3%), Kuwait (3.6%), Bangladesh (3.1%), Iran (3.1%) and Bahrain (2.9%).

Among the 1.74 million foreign pilgrims who performed the Hajj last year, an estimated 65.1% originated from low and lower-middle income countries.

(...)

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