Credit CDC – WFAA TV News
# 8619
With the second imported case of MERS in two weeks making headlines, it isn’t surprising that the CDC has recently upgraded their Traveler’s Alert level for the Middle East to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula (see map below) and have posted notices in more than 20 major airports around the country.
Credit CDC
Curiously, there is no mention of avoiding camels, or camel products, in the CDC’s Traveler’s Advisory or in this newly released airport signage.
Although the exact mode of transmission to humans remains uncertain, many Arabian camels have been found to carry the MERS Coronavirus (see here, here, & here) and camel exposure has been linked to at least some human infections.
Canada’s PHAC MERS Middle East Traveler’s advice includes:
-
Avoid close contact with all wild or farmed animals, such as bats and camels.
- If you have chronic medical conditions, your risk may be higher.
- If you must visit a farm, make sure you practise good hygiene and wash your hands before and after contact with animals.
Hong Kong’s CHP routinely advises traveler’s to the Middle East:
* Avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels;
* Avoid contact with animals (especially camels), birds, poultry or sick people during travel;
Although a bit less restrictive, the World Health Organization has this to say in their MERS FAQ regarding the risks of camel exposure:
Until more is understood about MERS, people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from MERS‐CoV infection. Therefore, these people should avoid contact with camels, drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked.
And lastly, the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture – which has long protested any connection between camel exposure and MERS, issued strict precautionary measures last Sunday (see Saudi Ministry Of Agriculture Issues Warnings On Camels), which includes reducing exposure to camels, and the wearing of PPEs (masks, gloves) when in close contact with them.
The Agriculture Minister said in the press release posted on a number of health measures that Must be adhered to, Including: NOT to approach direct from camel than it needed with the necessary health precautions and wear protective respiratory masks When dealing with camels, and the need to wash hands with soap Before and after touching the camels, we recommend wearing protective gloves , especially in Cases of Cases of birth and dealing with diseased or dead.
All of which makes the absence of any mention of camels in the CDC’s advice a bit surprising.
