Steer clear of sick pilgrims from S/Arabia •WHO issues global warning as deadly disease spreads to 9 countries

Amidst worldwide concerns over likely spread of a deadly respiratory disease that broke out in Saudi Arabia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued world travel advice to minimise its spread during the on-going Umra and the coming Hajj pilgrimages.

The advice issued, late on Thursday, also disclosed that the disease, named Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has affected nine countries to date, while adding that the WHO is coordinating the global response to the emerging virus.
The WHO particularly asked pilgrims who developed a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough, severe enough to interfere with daily activities to minimise their contact with others to keep from infecting them, among other personal hygiene prescriptions. It also advised persons who have had close physical contacts with any sick pilgrim and who have also noticed similar symptoms to report to the hospital for monitoring.
While admitting that the risk from the MERS virus is “considered very low,” the WHO, however, cautioned that countries should advise pilgrims with chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic lung disease and immunodeficiency to “review the risk and assess whether making the pilgrimage is advisable.”
“Returning pilgrims should be advised that if they develop a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough (severe enough to interfere with usual daily activities) during the two weeks after their return, they should seek medical attention and immediately notify their local health authority.
“Persons who have had close contact with a pilgrim or traveller with a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough (severe enough to interfere with usual daily activities) and who themselves develop such an illness should be advised to report to local health authorities to be monitored for MERS-CoV.
“Practitioners and facilities should be alerted to the possibility of MERS-CoV infection in returning pilgrims with acute respiratory illness, especially those with fever and cough and pulmonary parenchymal disease (e.g. pneumonia or the acute respiratory distress syndrome). If clinical presentation suggests the diagnosis of MERS-CoV, laboratory testing,5,6 in accordance with WHO’s case definition7 should be done and infection prevention and control measures implemented. Clinicians should also be alerted to the possibility of atypical presentations in patients who are immunocompromised,” the WHO said.
The World Health Organisation puts the latest global toll from MERS at 45 deaths from a total of 90 laboratory-confirmed cases.
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