Posted on 11/29/2022 11:41:27 AM PST by nickcarraway
Football fever has taken over the world, thanks to the 2022 FIFA World Cup that’s currently being held in Qatar. Despite being organised under the shadow of two public health emergencies — the COVID-19 pandemic and the monkeypox disease (recently renamed as ‘Mpox’) — millions of fans from around the world are expected to throng this global footballing event.
Amid all this frenzy, the possibility of a deadlier viral outbreak at the FIFA World Cup has been flagged by WHO-backed health experts!
The findings of a study, published in the journal New Microbes and New Infections, have warned that about 1.2 million football fans could be at risk of catching the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Commonly known as ‘Camel Flu’, this infection can be deadlier than COVID-19 and has a considerably higher mortality rate.
With the threat of this virus looming, it is important to stay updated about the disease, its symptoms, spread, treatment and prevention. Therefore, listed below are answers to some frequently asked questions about ‘camel flu’.
What is camel flu (MERS)?
Just like COVID-19, Camel flu or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
The disease can also become severe, resulting in pneumonia, respiratory failure that requires ventilator and ICU support.
Where does the MERS coronavirus originate?
The Camel flu virus is zoonotic, meaning it is transmitted between animals and humans. This particular infection originates from infected dromedary camels across several countries in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
Dromedary camel or the Arabian camel is a one-humped camel, found mostly in the Middle East. It is also one of the tallest camel species.
What are the symptoms of camel flu (MERS)?
Typically, the symptoms of MERS include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Although it is uncommon, patients have also reported gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea.
How does camel flu spread?
Direct or indirect contact with an infected person can result in human-to-human transmission of this disease. While the exact route of transmission remains unclear, this respiratory illness most likely spreads through respiratory droplets.
Large outbreaks have predominantly occurred among close contacts of infected individuals and in healthcare settings.
How dangerous is camel flu?
MERS is more dangerous than COVID19. As per the WHO, the mortality rate of this disease is a whopping 35%!
Who is most at risk of developing a severe MERS infection?
According to the WHO, the virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, people with weak immune systems, and those with chronic diseases like renal disease, cancer, lung disease and diabetes.
Is there any treatment available for camel flu (MERS)?
Currently, no vaccine or specific treatment is available for camel flu (MERS).
In the absence of MERS-specific medicines, treatment of MERS patients is supportive and based on the patient’s symptoms and disease severity.
Therefore, ensuring disease surveillance and prevention is our best bet.
What steps can we take to prevent MERS transmission?
The WHO prescribes general hygiene measures, including regular hand washing before and after touching animals. Those in regular contact with camels must avoid contact with sick animals.
Additionally, the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products, including camel milk and meat, should be avoided.
Those at higher risk of developing severe disease should take the extra precaution of avoiding contact with dromedary camels, drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked.
USA just scored!
(The entire Iranian soccer team didn’t commit suicide. )
One Hump or two ?
Covid, Flu, RSV and now MERS suddenly here ALL at the SAME TIME. Almost like people’s immune systems have been intentionally wrecked. Next we will hear SARS is spreading again.
To be renamed c-flu so that camel humpers are not offended...
I maybe wrong but if memory serves weren’t we warned during a MERS outbreak some years ago that it would become a global pandemic with high fatality rates? That never happened. I don’t recall the exact reason why but I believe it had to do with the virus being self limiting.
What kind of gay sex does one have to participate in to get Camel Flu. I assume it involves some kind of humping.
We were warned about lots of big flus like swine and bird. All seemed to fizzle although the ilnesses were real enough.
Good one.
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