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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFor Only 2nd Time In History, The World Health Organization Calls An Emergency Meeting About a virus
For Only The Second Time In History, The World Health Organization Calls An Emergency Meeting About A Virus
While the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV) hasn't yet reached pandemic potential, the World Health Organization (WHO) is worried enough about the virus to call its second-ever emergency meeting.
The first emergency meeting happened in 2009 and the subject was the H1N1 bird flu virus, which sickened thousands. The meetings are part of a relatively new system called the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which was implemented after the SARS outbreak in 2002.
The talks will take place on Tuesday, July 9, and Thursday, July 11, over a phone conference with experts from around the world. The virus was first reported on back in September of last year, but researchers still haven't been able to figure out where it's coming from and how it's infecting humans.
Eighty people have been sickened and 45 have died, according to the latest numbers. Most cases are either in Saudi Arabia or in people who had recently visited that country. Researchers have seen limited human-to-human spread, as well.
During the meeting, researchers may decide to label the virus an "international health emergency," according to the AFP. Experts are worried about the potential for spread during the annual Hajj pilgrimage one of the world's largest gatherings, taking place in Mecca and Medina.
http://www.businessinsider.com/who-emergency-meeting-about-mers-2013-7
Also:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023136822
Muslim hajj pilgrimage in focus amid virus fearsus fears
Virologists are casting a worried eye on this year's Islamic hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as they struggle with the enigmatic, deadly virus known as MERS which is striking hardest in the kingdom.
Little is known about the new pathogen, beyond the fact that it can be lethal by causing respiratory problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. It can be transmitted between humans, but unlike its cousin, the SARS virus, which sparked a scare a decade ago, it does not seem very contagious.
Even so, for any respiratory virus the mass gathering of the hajj provides a perfect opportunity to first spread at the two holiest Muslim shrines in the cities of Mecca and Medina, and then travel around the globe at jet speed as pilgrims return home.
The 2012 hajj drew 3.1 million people -- and this year's event likewise occurs in October, as the northern hemisphere slides into the season for coughs and sneezes.
gopiscrap
(23,765 posts)nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)very worrying about the hajj. so many people in close proximity right at the start of flu season.
with more than 50% mortality, this is potentially a real problem.
Alameda
(1,895 posts)IOW, I don't think this is something new, but the attention being paid to it is new.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)People need to know about any potential pandemics so they can take precautions.
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)cdc.gov/eid/article/19/7/12-1094.htm
http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/virol/coronaviruses.htm
Coronaviruses have large RNA genomes replicated by a virus-encoded replicase/polymerase. RNA polymerases have no proof-reading capability and typically have an error rate of about 1 in 10,000 nucleotides. Since the genome of an average coronavirus is about 30kB, this means that there will be several mutations in each progeny virus. There are also many deletion mutations formed in coronaviruses. There is a very high frequency of recombination in coronaviruses which is not typical of non-segmented RNA viruses. This may be due to the discontinuous mode of RNA replication in which the leader sequence is made and then the leader/polymerase may jump to another strand. This high rate of recombination results in rapid evolution of the virus and the formation of new strains.
And with several million people as possible vectors/carriers present during the hajj season in SA,
this needs to be taken most seriously....
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)used a pretext of work being done on buildings to try and curb visas but it is a dangerous situation esp since they haven't figured out the carrier yet. It is a high death rate and already has been passed from person to person in a limited manner.
ileus
(15,396 posts)Earth_First
(14,910 posts)ileus
(15,396 posts)Save the earth, decreasing carbon footprints.