More and more people in the Arabian Peninsula become infected with the dangerous Mers virus. Saudi Arabia announces almost daily deaths, doctors are on strike for fear of infection. Internationally growing concern.

” May Allah show mercy to them ” wants the health authority in Saudi Arabia on its website the people who have died from the dangerous coronavirus Mers . On Tuesday morning, there were 102 deaths in the UK – 21 more than they did a week earlier. The pathogen was discovered in September 2012 , and the most affected is the oil state Saudi Arabia.

For a few weeks the numbers have risen there by leaps and bounds . The government in Riyadh gears up : The Health Minister was replaced and set up special centers with isolation wards in three cities . However, from Riyadh, Jeddah or Mecca gets the virus to other countries and spread fear. At the weekend, Egypt reported a first suspected case . A returnee from Saudi Arabia had exhibited symptoms.

Recently it got particularly physicians , pharmacists and nurses who came into contact with an affected person . Thus, a 38 -year-old Filipino pharmacist in Riyadh was taken to the hospital, she had apparently infected. In Jeddah the pathogen Mers- CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus ) was diagnosed in a 30 -year-old Indian nurse. In Mecca, a 32 -year-old Sudanese doctor diseased mind .

Many Saudi doctors refuse for fear of contagion now to take care of infected at all. Because so far there is neither a vaccine nor a therapy. The body has to try to combat the parasite itself, which can lead to kidney failure and severe pneumonia .

Arabian Peninsula Infection:Origin of the pathogen unclear

Why the coronavirus especially in Saudi Arabia occurs is not known . In general, we know relatively little at the moment . The pathogens can occur both in birds and in mammals. Some studies indicate that Mers has its origin in bats. Scientists were able to detect the virus but also in camels. As genetic analyzes have shown that the virus is probably jumped several times from animals to humans . Camels are kept in the Arab States for their meat, milk, and as transport animals.

Tarik Jasarevic , staff of the World Health Organization (WHO ) stated : “We challenge now is to figure out how the excitation of camels jumping to humans. ” There is evidence that the symptoms of infection from person to person are less serious than if the pathogen passes from animals to humans . At the same time , the expert admits : “We still do not know enough.” A new WHO delegation of doctors now wants to make their way into the Kingdom , to search for answers.

Arabian Peninsula Infection:Mers-Virus in Europe

Ten years ago, at the Sars virus, which is also among the coronaviruses , died around 800 people worldwide. Although Mers is considered less contagious, but more often leads to death. In particular, the presence of the pathogen in the Islamic pilgrimage Mecca alerted the authorities. Because with the large annual pilgrimage , the ” Hajj ” , gather there more than two million faithful from around the world .

According to the World Health Organization there are in Saudi Arabia , although by far the most Mers- cases. But the pathogen is already appeared in many countries – officially confirmed by the WHO are currently 261 cases of infection and 93 deaths. Demonstrably affected were therefore in the Arab world , especially the United Arab

Emirates but also Jordan, Kuwait , Oman , Qatar and Tunisia. Last reported Yemen, the first Mers infection. In Europe, there were France, Greece , Italy, the UK and Germany . In Munich in March 2013, a 73 -year – Mers patient had died from the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the pathogen was diagnosed in Malaysia and the Philippines .

Already last year warned WHO Director-General Margaret that the pathogen ” a danger to the whole world” is . Thus, the real thing does not occur, a solution should be found later than the next ” Hajj ” . The great pilgrimage this year will be in early October.

Last Monday, health minister Abdullah Al Rabiah was dismissed from his post, although there was no official confirmation this was connected to the MERS outbreak.

King Abdullah was reported to have visited Jeddah on Thursday to play down what he claimed were “exaggerated and false rumours” about the virus.

The country has now established three specialist treatment centres in hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Western diplomatic sources in Saudi Arabia have said they believe the government views the situation seriously and is taking “proactive responses”.

Significant efforts are now being made to understand more about the virus, for which there is no known vaccine.

Experts consider it to be a more dangerous but less infectious off-shoot of the SARS virus, which spread through Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, leaving nearly 800 people dead.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel guidance for Saudi Arabia to make travellers aware of the presence of MERS.

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