Health authorities have issued a warning as two individuals succumbed to a highly lethal strain of coronavirus. The Ministry of Health in KSA confirmed these fatalities among three newly reported cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS).
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that two individuals, aged 42 and 85, who remained unnamed, were diagnosed with the disease in Saudi Arabia in November 2022 and January 2023, respectively. Local health authorities also noted that another man, aged 83, tested positive for the deadly condition in December 2022 but managed to survive. These three cases involved non-healthcare workers and exhibited symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
It's concerning that the zoonotic disease has a fatality rate of around 35% among those it infects. Typically, this lethal virus is transmitted from infected animals, primarily dromedary camels. Among the three cases, two individuals had prior contact with these animals. However, all three men consumed raw camel milk in the two weeks leading up to the onset of their symptoms. Earlier this year, there were also reports of this infection in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
MERS, initially identified in Jordan in 2012, has resulted in 2,605 infections and 936 deaths to date. While most cases are reported in the Arabian Peninsula, isolated cases have surfaced in other regions, including the UK. This zoonotic disease belongs to the coronavirus family, which encompasses a range of health issues, from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Compared to COVID-19, MERS appears to be more lethal but less easily transmissible.
The WHO statement anticipates more MERS-CoV cases in regions with dromedary transmission, cautioning that cases may spread to other countries through individuals exposed to the virus via dromedaries or their products. To mitigate risks, the NHS advises travelers to the Middle East to frequently wash hands, particularly after farm or market visits. The WHO also recommends avoiding raw camel products like milk and urine, as well as undercooked camel meat.