Spike in Saudi Mers cases sparks outbreak fears ahead of Hajj
A spike in Mers cases in Saudi Arabia has ignited fears of an outbreak during Hajj, the Muslim festival that sees over three million people congregate in Mecca in early June.
Since March, at least nine people have been infected with the virus, a close but far more deadly cousin of Covid-19, the Saudi Arabian health ministry has said. Two have died.
Six of the most recent cases were in healthcare workers, who were infected from a single symptomatic patient in a hospital in Riyadh.
However, the source of infection remains unknown in two cases, sparking fears that the virus could be spreading in the wider Saudi community under the radar.
Airfinity, the disease analytics firm, warned the cases 'raise the risk of outbreaks and potential international spread amidst the upcoming Hajj when millions will gather.'
In several pictures of US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh earlier this week, waiters and other Saudi bystanders were seen wearing face masks.
The Hajj – which takes place every year in the beginning of June – sees more than three million people confined to a 12-square kilometre area and is famously a breeding ground of respiratory diseases like influenza and bacterial meningitis.
Since 2012, a total of 2613 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mers have been reported globally and more than 80 per cent of those occurred in Saudi Arabia. The case fatality rate is 36 per cent.
Covid-19's case fatality rate, by comparison, ranges between 0.1 per cent to 5 per cent, depending on the country and time period, according to John Hopkins University.
Mers is a zoonotic virus carried by camels and can be contracted via touching infected animals, consuming their meat or milk, or eating food that has been contaminated with camel faeces, urine, or spit.
Human to human transmission, via respiratory droplets, is generally confined to enclosed hospital settings but there have been instances of household and community transmission.
The main symptoms include a high temperature, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, diarrhoea, and being sick.
Most people who die from Mers have at least one underlying medical condition like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or high blood pressure.
There is currently no vaccine available to protect against Mers, although clinical trials are currently underway.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Teen, 15, nearly died after falling ill with a bacterial infection while menstruating
A woman reveals how she slipped in a coma and almost died after suffering toxic shock syndrome . rom a tampon as a teenager Now, Shannon Turner has laid bare the horrifying ordeal exclusively with saying: 'It put me in a coma and nearly took my life - I hadn't even had my period for a full year yet.' Shannon, who just 15-years-old and on a family vacation at the time, revealed she began to feel sick in the evening after she landed, but she assumed it was just jet lag, but woke up the next day with extreme symptoms, including: vomiting, diarrhea, a fever, and fatigue. She continued: 'I was brought to the doctor that afternoon, given a shot for nausea, and sent home.' 'I continued to deteriorate and was brought back to the doctor later that same day.' She recalled: 'My last memory is collapsing in the office and laying on the ground because it hurt too much to sit up.' 'My heart rate was extremely high, my blood pressure was dangerously low, and I was rushed to the ICU. I didn't wake up until a few days later.' While Shannon was unconscious, doctors worked furiously to diagnose her - initially misdiagnosing her with meningitis and nearly performed an unnecessary spinal tap. She said: 'Thankfully, my mom mentioned to a family member that I was on my period - and that's when menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) was suggested.' 'The doctors were informed and my treatment plan shifted. I was incredibly lucky the infectious disease doctor on call had studied toxic shock and knew exactly what to do, but because mTSS progresses so quickly, I was still given a 50/50 chance of survival.' She explained that after the doctors saved her life, she was sent home with 'little guidance' on what to expect during recovery, or how long her symptoms would last - and the aftermath was brutal. 'My hospital stay was only a few days, but the recovery afterward took much longer,' Shannon said. 'I dealt with memory loss, anxiety, attention issues, and depression. My periods also became extremely painful. 'From the age of 15, I was put on prescription painkillers to manage my menstrual pain.' Her experience led to her starting her nonprofit, Protect Her Inc., which is dedicated to 'revolutionizing menstrual health education.' 'We believe knowledge is power - and yet, so many people are navigating their cycles with almost none,' she pointed out. 'I began to see why [there were no recourses], because periods have been taboo for far too long. It's the same reason I never talked about my experience with mTSS, and that silence was incredibly isolating.' Now, over 15 years later, Shannon regularly shares tips on how to avoid the life-threatening situation happening to other people - as well as the symptoms she ignored. 'My message to anyone using tampons is: use the lowest absorbency possible. Your tampon should be saturated when you remove it - if your flow is light, opt for a liner instead,' she listed. She also advises against using tampons overnight, noting if you begin to get sick you won't notice the symptoms if you're asleep. 'We need to stay aware of what our bodies are telling us - especially when there's a foreign object inside us,' she pointed out. Shannon added it's important to learn about the brands of sanitary products you're using, and make sure you're comfortable with their ingredients and manufacturing standards. She urged: 'Most importantly, be in tune with your body. It's always communicating with us, if we take the time to listen.' Shannon also advises people to immediately take a tampon out if they start feeling sick - describing the symptoms as flu-like. She insisted: 'So [if you experience] headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever - take the tampon out. If you feel even worse go seek medical attention.' Shannon now hopes to educate young women through her non-profit, Protect Her Inc, which provides comprehensive menstrual education to adolescents aged seven to 18, with 'a focus on practical knowledge that fosters confidence, health literacy, and open dialogue.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dana White makes public donation appeal to support Ben Askren with former MMA fighter needing life-saving lung transplant after severe pneumonia fight
Dana White has issued a public appeal in support of Ben Askren, who remains in hospital after being diagnosed with severe pnuemonia earlier this month. Askren, 40, was hospitalised after contracting pneumonia as a result of a staph infection and he now requires a life-saving lung transplant. He was unresponsive last week but alive, despite claims circulating online that he had died. Askren was transferred to his home town of Wisconsin to receive treatment, according to UFC commentator and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier. This came after Askren's wife, Amy Askren, provided an update on his concerning condition, saying he was bed-bound in care. She revealed earlier this week that her husband remains in hospital on a ventilator. 'His body can't handle coming off sedation too much yet,' she posted on Facebook. 'I'm still praying for a miracle with his current lungs, but they are currently starting the evaluation process for a lung transplant.' UFC CEO White is hopeful kind-hearted UFC fans will be able to donate, and he shared the link to the fundraiser with his 10.5million Instagram followers. 'Click the link to help Ben Askren,' White said. According to the National Institutes of Health, the cost of a lung transplant in the United States ranges from $300,000 (£222,915) to $400,000 (£297,220). Askren retired from MMA in 2019 after a three-fight stint with the UFC. He made his MMA debut in 2009 after a decorated collegiate wrestling career that saw him become a two-time NCAA division 1 champion. The 2008 Olympian would go on a decade-long undefeated streak inside the cage, winning world titles in Bellator and ONE and was widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world outside the UFC. Despite a fractious relationship with White, Askren would make his Octagon debut in 2019 after a trade deal involving former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. Amy shared an update on social media and revealed that there are 'good days and bad' After defeating Robbie Lawler in his UFC debut, Askren suffered back-to-back losses against Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia before announcing his retirement. Despite undergoing major hip surgery after hanging up his gloves, Askren later returned to competition, losing to Jake Paul via first-round TKO in a boxing match.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The common mistakes that always lead to 'Ozempic rebound' weight gain - and the advice I give to my patients after their last jab: DR HARSH SHETH
We've all seen how miraculous the results can be. Ozempic and similar GLP-1 medications like Wegovy or Mounjaro have supercharged weight loss for millions.
