March 07, 2025 08:27 am (IST)

Make this your homepage

Health

Donald Trump pauses sweeping tariffs on Mexico until April 2 | Analysts warn of China advances in Myanmar, see Marco Rubio as key to US response | 'Strongly condemn': UK foreign office on S Jaishankar's security breach in London | US, Canada diplomats discuss trade amid new tariff announcement by Trump | US holds unprecedented secret talks with Hamas over release of American hostages being held in Gaza: Reports | 'No black mark on my career': IPS officer shocked over stepdaughter Ranya Rao's arrest in smuggling case | Will Europe arm Ukraine after the US halts military aid? | MK Stalin ‘rejects’ delimitation process at all-party meet, seeks status quo on Lok Sabha seats for 30 years | 9 civilians die as suicide bombers crash 2 explosive-laden cars into Pakistani army compound | Hyderabad techie dies by suicide after 6 months of wedding, family alleges dowry harrasment by husband

Photo: World Bank/Curt Carnemark

UN urges research on animals in spreading MERS virus

India Blooms News Service | | May 24, 2014, at 07:06 pm

# Food and Agricultural Organization # MERS virus # MERS-CoV # illnesses # deaths

New York, May 24 (IBNS): Health experts and veterinarians called for stepped-up monitoring, investigations and immediate reporting of cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) during a meeting convened by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Oman.

The infection – which has caused numerous human illnesses and deaths – was spotlighted at the regional consultation convened by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery of Oman, where experts revealed that the origins of the illness may be linked to animals.

“It is vitally important for the international community to increase our understanding of ‘where’ and ‘how’ the virus is transmitted, ‘who’ the source is – whether animal or human – and ‘when’ and ‘why’ certain people are spreading the virus,” said Juan Lubroth, FAO’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

Participants drew attention to the “recent upsurge in human cases in the Arabian Peninsula and the suspected zoonotic transmission involving, in particular, dromedary camels.”

“There is an urgent need to focus investigations on the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in animal species, to prevent human primary infections and to avoid putting other people in danger,” Lubroth pressed.

In a bid to keep the infection from spreading, a declaration warned public health and veterinary authorities to carry out coordinated investigations and share information and results.

The experts agreed on a list of specific recommendations to increase knowledge about the transmission of the virus to humans and to minimize its impact on animal and human health – as well as agriculture and livestock-related livelihoods.

“By better understanding the epidemiology, we can provide the necessary guidelines to avoid spillover from animals to humans and protect the camel or other animal industries from potential negative consequences,” explained Lubroth.

As of 21 May, MERS had led to over 630 laboratory-confirmed illnesses among humans and more than 190 deaths since 2012, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It has affected people primarily in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but cases have also been reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Oman and Yemen.

Other cases reported in Asia, North Africa, Europe and North America have been linked to travel or work in the Middle East region, reflecting the role that the speed of global travel can potentially play in the spread of disease agents.

The majority of cases have occurred through human-to-human transmission, however it remains to be determined if people may have been infected by contact with environmental or animal sources.

Lubroth emphasized, “participants in the MERS consultation agreed that there is also a vital need to raise awareness among the public at large about the importance of seeking medical attention, the nature of the disease, and ways to avoid it.”

The recommendations, which focus on the potential link with camels or other animal sources, counsel that priorities be given to raising public awareness of MERS-CoV; urgent investment in research and surveillance of animals; the systematic search for potential sources of human infection from animal sources or the environment; and joint efforts and coordination among public health authorities.

Coronaviruses – widespread in animals – can infect livestock and a wide range of wild species, including bats, rodents and birds.

According to FAO, some studies have revealed that that MERS-CoV has been circulating in camels in Saudi Arabia since at least 1992. Genetic evidence of the infection was found in camel samples from a farm in Qatar and in other studies in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

(Camels in particular are suspected in spreading the MERS virus. Photo: World Bank/Curt Carnemark)

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.

India
International

Related Images

West Bengal government airlifts ailing Gangasagar pilgrims to Kolkata Jan 13, 2025, at 12:45 pm

Cyclone Dana: Heavy rains lash Kolkata, widespread waterlogging reported from several areas Oct 25, 2024, at 11:15 pm

Farmers working at dragon fruit garden in Agaratala Jun 30, 2021, at 05:07 am