# 7386
This morning the International Business Times carries an article on MERS-CoV threat in Saudi Arabia that reports the World Health Organization recommends that religious pilgrims wear a mask while among crowds during Ramadan.
In fact, it is the main focus of the story.
Ramadan Mecca Pilgrims to Wear Masks to Avert Coronavirus Epidemic
Health authorities urge pilgrims to wear facemasks to prevent spread of Middle East virus
By Hannah Osborne: June 11, 2013 5:21 PM GMT
The article quotes Salman Rawaf, professor of public health at Imperial College London, as saying: "The risk [to pilgrims] is there. The advice from the World Health Organisation is wear a mask."
The only problem is - according to Gregory Hartl, the WHO’s spokesperson - it’s incorrect.
Admittedly, for reporters who don’t normally cover the health/science/emerging disease beat, navigating the brave new worlds of MERS-CoV or H5N1/H7N9, can be daunting.
Few media outlets now maintain dedicated science and health reporters. Often, journalists who would normally cover politics or crime (sorry, I’m being redundant) . . . or even sports, are dragooned into covering emerging disease outbreaks.
Unless they’ve been immersed in the subject for months or even years, few non-science reporters would know when to question (or double-check) a `statement of fact’ from an expert.
Which is the primary reason I rely mostly on rock solid, knowledgeable, and dependable journalists like Helen Branswell, Maggie Fox, Jason Gale, Maryn Mckenna, Jennifer Yang, Lisa Schnirring and Robert Roos of CIDRAP - along with a short list of others - in this blog.
Unfortunately, the number of media outlets willing or able to employ science journalists of their caliber seems to dwindle each and every year.
A policy that is both ironic and shortsighted, as we live in an age increasingly dependent upon science and technology.
One where we need more expert reporting on science, not less.
