The MERS virus has caused nearly 50% more deaths in [b]Saudi Arabia[/b] than has been officially reported, a review of medical data by Saudi health authorities shows. [s]The Wall Street Journal[/s] reports that the survey by the [b]Ministry of Health[/b] revealed that 282 Saudis and non-Saudis have died in the kingdom from MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, since the disease was first detected in September 2012 – a 48% increase over the previously announced toll of 190. There also have been 688 confirmed cases instead of 575, according to the revised figures. Foreign experts have criticised Saudi authorities for a lack of transparency and slowness in sharing information about the outbreak. MERS, which originated in the kingdom, has been diagnosed in victims in more than 20 countries.
Doctors believe they have found the first evidence that a new deadly virus has been transmitted from a camel to people, reports [s]BBC News[/s]. The animals have been suspected as the source of MERS and a study published in the [s]New England Journal of Medicine[/s] has found ‘identical’ MERS viruses in camels and their owner. The 44-year-old man, from Saudi Arabia, died of the infection.
Saudi Arabia will test camels in the kingdom for MERS, its agriculture minister was quoted as saying. [s]Reuters Health[/s] reports that many scientists have said for months that camels are the most likely source of transmission from animals to humans.
A [b]Purdue University[/b]-led research team has figured out how to disable a part of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus responsible for hiding it from the immune system – a critical step in developing a vaccine against the deadly disease. According to [s]Science Daily[/s], lead researcher Andrew Mesecar said because MERS and SARS are related, insight into one could provide a shortcut to finding a treatment or developing a vaccine for the other.
Muslim[/b] pilgrims from around the world are, meanwhile, pouring into [b]Saudi’s[/b] holy city of [b]Mecca[/b], undeterred by the spread of the MERS virus. [s]Yahoo News[/s] reports that the faithful continue to pour in to perform the lesser umrah pilgrimage. And, the report says, numbers will rocket when pilgrims arrive for hajj, the largest annual religious gathering worldwide, which takes place this year in October. Local authorities in Mecca are distributing leaflets and brochures containing advice on hygiene and measures to prevent the risk of infection by the coronavirus. But Saudi Arabia’s [b]Hajj Ministry[/b] has not yet taken any special measures related to MERS. The [b]World Health Organisation[/b] has also so far not advised special screening at points of entry, nor does it currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions.
[link url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-mers-death-toll-nearly-50-higher-than-reported-1401900859]Full report in The Wall Street Journal[/link]
[link url=http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27695140]Full BBC News report[/link]
[link url=http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1401505?query=featured_home#t=article]New England Journal of Medicine case report[/link]
[link url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/05/us-health-mers-saudi-camels-idUSKBN0EG1FT20140605]Full Reuters Health report[/link]
[link url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140603162200.htm]Full Science Daily report[/link]
[link url=http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1004113]PLOS Pathogens abstract[/link]
[link url=http://news.yahoo.com/pilgrims-pour-saudi-undeterred-mers-fears-073615424.html]Full Yahoo News report[/link]