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Camels have been implicated in a Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome known as MERS, a viral infection that has caused outbreaks in humans in that part of the world, a new study suggests.
As of April 23, 345 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 107 deaths, have been linked to the coronavirus and reported to public health authorities worldwide, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Scientists are not yet clear precisely how the MERS virus is transmitted to people, but it has been found in bats and camels, and many experts say camels are the most likely animal reservoir from which humans are becoming infected.
MERS, a SARS-like viral disease first detected in 2012 that has caused outbreaks in the Middle East and sporadic cases around the world, has raised international alarm in recent weeks with a surge in infections and deaths in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia remains the worst-hit country with 345 confirmed cases according to recept reports by Agence France-Presse, of which 102 have been fatal.
The World Health Organization said last week it had been informed of a total of 243 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection worldwide, including 93 deaths.
Other Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have also reported cases of the virus.
While there is no cure yet, scientists have found natural human antibodies to the virus and say their discovery marks a step towards developing treatments for the often fatal disease.
Agencies/Canadajournal
