Coronavirus – Credit CDC PHIL
# 8822
Earlier today a story filed by AFP and other media outlets apparently quoted a World Health Organization official in the Western Pacific as saying that MERS was `unlikely to spread in Asia’. That story has been picked up, and rebroadcast, widely. An excerpt from the AFP report follows:
MERS unlikely to spread in Asia: WHO expert
July 10, 2014 1:50 pm
MANILA - Asian countries should keep their guard against the deadly Middle East respiratory virus, although it is unlikely to spread to the region, a World Health Organization expert said Thursday.
The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) appears to be less infectious than originally thought even though it has already killed 287 people, said Mark Jacobs, WHO’s director for communicable diseases in the Western Pacific.
The relatives of those infected have not been showing any signs of catching it, he added.
His comments come after the Philippines last week urged its large Muslim minority to reconsider plants to join the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which takes place in Saudi Arabia, until the threat from the virus has dissipated.But Jacobs said the virus posed little regional threat.
A reassuring message, and one – I’m sure – that gladdened the collective hearts of those whose job it is to book Hajj pilgrimages this fall to Saudi Arabia.
The only problem is, we still don’t know enough about how, and why, the MERS coronavirus spreads to and among humans to be all that reassuring.
A short while ago, the World Health Organization – after seeing this story go viral on the newswires – emailed a `clarification’ for the media, which judiciously tones down the level of reassurance.
Clarification for media: MERS
Earlier today WHO met with a group of journalists in Manila to discuss some ongoing infectious disease issues including the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). In the conversation, WHO was asked about the possible spread of MERS in Asia. Based on resulting media stories, we believe there was some misunderstanding and clarification is necessary.
Given that it is still not known how MERS spreads to people, WHO cannot predict how the virus will spread. Therefore, it is important that health authorities stay vigilant. Already at least 10 countries, including Algeria, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Tunisia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America have reported cases in returning travellers.This strain of coronavirus that causes MERS was first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Our understanding of the virus and the disease it causes is continuing to evolve. Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all countries to continue their surveillance for acute respiratory infections and to carefully review any unusual patterns. Returning travellers who develop respiratory infection, vomiting or diarrhoea should report to medical staff or local health services as soon as possible and inform them of recent travel.
Globally, 827 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 287 related deaths have officially been reported to WHO
