Reacción a "Reactions to possible cases of "camel virus" (MERS-CoV) at the World Cup in Qatar"

MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is a disease caused by a coronavirus. Like most infections caused by these viruses, it is zoonotic in origin, i.e. it is transmitted from animals to humans through close contact. In the case of MERS, the virus is transmitted by contact with infected dromedaries and very sporadically human-to-human transmission has been seen. The infecting person usually shows symptoms of infection. These symptoms are mainly fever, cough, nasal congestion and respiratory distress, which can lead to pneumonia. The disease has a case fatality rate of 35%, according to WHO data. In outbreaks to date, both in the endemic area of Arabia and in events exported to other countries, such as the outbreak in South Korea in 2015, it has always been reported that the onset of transmission chains has started by direct contact with dromedaries and infected patients subsequently showed symptoms consistent with MERS.

During 2022 there have been two cases of MERS detected in Qatar, between March and April. The suspected cases at the World Cup have not, to my knowledge, been confirmed as MERS. In the case of the French national team players, it will be necessary to study whether it is true that they are infected by MERS and not by another virus, to confirm which pathogen they are suffering from and whether they have had contact with dromedaries.

In any case, we must be vigilant for possible new cases, but also raise awareness among people in the region about proper hand washing, avoid contact with camels and watch for possible symptoms compatible with MERS and, as far as possible, avoid crowds. We should be cautious and appeal to common sense. Above all, those in the region should avoid contact with camels and maintain good hand hygiene and safe distances.