World Cup in Qatar: should we be concerned about the camel virus?

Camelids are star animals in Qatar, where the 2022 FIFA World Cup opens on Sunday 20 November. However, a concern is growing about these animals.

Camels and dromedaries can carry a coronaviruses, MERS. This virus poses a danger to humans. “In 2012, a new respiratory virus appeared in Saudi Arabia. Baptized MERS-CoV for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, it affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for fever and cough, which can lead to death in about 30% of cases”, underlines the Institut Pasteur (source 1).

Few cases were imported, the virus remained mostly local, in the Middle East. A total of 1,219 cases were diagnosed, resulting in 449 deaths, reports the Institut Pasteur. How does the virus manifest itself? “The virus preferentially multiplies in the lower respiratory tract, causing fever, cough, difficulty breathingand sometimes gastrointestinal disturbances. These non-specific symptoms sometimes slow down the diagnosis, especially in a country that is confronted with this type of virus for the first time”, points out the Institut Pasteur. The most serious cases and deaths have been observed in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, kidney failure, etc.

To date, there is no treatment or vaccine to protect against this virus. In Middle Eastern countries, many people with the virus show no symptoms.

What prevention? The World Health Organization (source 2) advises vulnerable people to avoid contact with camels, not to drink raw milk or camel urine and not to eat undercooked meat. French health authorities have not issued any restrictions for citizens traveling to Qatar.