Posted on 05/14/2014 6:06:48 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Concern about the deadly new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus has "significantly increased" but the disease does not yet constitute a global public health emergency, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.
The virus, which causes coughing, fever and sometimes fatal pneumonia, has been reported in more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia alone and has spread to neighboring countries and in a few cases, to Europe and Asia. It kills about 30 percent of those who are infected.
The WHO's emergency committee, which met on Tuesday, said on Wednesday that based on current information, the seriousness of the situation had increased in terms of public health impact, but that there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus.
"The committee concluded that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not yet been met," the WHO said in a statement.
MERS is a virus from the same family as SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed around 800 people worldwide after it first appeared in China in 2002.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Don’t PANIC......yet.
I know I’m assured...
MERS is only deadly for those with crappy medical care. The two cases that made it to the US are doing nicely. It is most definitely NOT an emergency
more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia alone and has spread to neighboring countries and in a few cases, to Europe,
Asia and the United States...
Just to be up to date.
That’s enough to make me concerned about it.
I wasn’t worried ... until now.
Time to panic, man!
Only government power can save us. We’re all too free!
We seem to have 2 types of people on FR: those who dismiss any medical alarm, and those who fan the flames of fear (especially if any contradictory info comes from hated agencies).
Largely, though, I tend to think it’s not quite the big deal just as WHO happens to promote. Just as Bird Flu and Swine Flu are not. Very serious they can be, but not necessarily epidemic or insurmountable.
Uh... camel lovers?
Actually, you stand a very good chance of seeing this spread around the world during the hajj.
I think some of us who urge caution go a bit overboard to counter the absolute panic we see at times.
Each contagious disease has potential. We just never know which one will go massive on us.
Rather than worry folks unduly, we just need to read the facts and act accordingly.
Some of the folks who disseminate this information do yeoman’s work and deserve recognition. I appreciate what they do as long as things are kept in perspective.
Weaponized camel turds ?
and AIDS is just as likely to affect straights as it is the gay bangers......right...
But “WHAT”, on Second, says it is, so WHO are you going to believe?
I tend to agree. In my short few decades on earth I was suppose to die from bird flue, swine flu, chicken flu, monkey flu, porcupine flu, anteater flu, riding without a helmet, palm oil, transfats, salt, 16 ounce sodas, global cooling, ozone destruction, global climate disruption,....
I’m still kicking. I’m not going to be panicking this time.
"I Dunno!" Oh, wait. Nope. That's the entire Obama administration.
“Actually, you stand a very good chance of seeing this spread around the world during the hajj.”
I am finding it difficult to understand why a deadly disease killing millions and millions of Muslims, that they could not blame on the West is a bad thing?
I realize that is cold hearted and sounds mean and cruel but I honestly am having trouble developing any sympathy
I Dunno’s on Third!
Ha! And "What'sHerFace" is in left field. (Where it makes little difference.)
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