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Saudis, WHO Raises MERS-CoV Count, Fears Mecca Hajj Pilgrimage
Medical authorities at the WHO and in Saudi Arabia are racing to control the outbreak of the MERS-CoV virus ahead of the Mecca Hajj Pilgrimage which brings millions of people to islam’s holiest cities Mecca and Medina. Who announced today that a 14 year old girl has been confirmed with the MERS-CoV virus while another person has died. This brings the tollin Saudi Arabia to 40 cases and 24 deaths. WHO states there are 55 cases wordwide with 31 deaths, a more than 50% mortality rate.
If the virus is not contained by the time of the pilgrimmage, Saudi Arabia could be exporting a potential dangerous pandemic across the world. While MERS-CoV doesn’t seem to be easily transmitted, things change. It is still a poorly understood virus and therefore medical officials can’t rule anything out. As Director of WHO put it bluntly last week, it is a threat to the entire world. -Mort
