Scientists have warned that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar “inevitably poses potential infectious disease risks”. While their main concerns are COVID-19 and monkeypox, there is also a warning for another ugly member of the coronavirus gang: Middle East respiratory syndrome, aka MERS.
Nearly 1.5 million visitors from all continents flocked to Qatar to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup, one of the biggest international events held since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mass events like this always pose a risk of some form of infectious disease, but researchers in a new study argue that the threat is particularly high this year, given the ongoing health crises.
Alongside the COVID-19 and monkeypox warnings, the three researchers highlight the MERS threat that fans in Qatar should be aware of. Moreover, they are not alone in this. A recent report from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control cited COVID-19, MERS-CoV and monkeypox as potential threats during the World Cup.
What is MERS; what are the symptoms?
Just like COVID-19, MERS is caused by a coronavirus. The virus is believed to have originated in bats, but camels are common reservoirs of the pathogen and are generally considered responsible for infected humans. Typically the symptoms are very similar to COVID-19, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath.
MERS was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since caused 2,600 cases and 935 deaths in 27 different countries. Most cases occurred in Saudi Arabia: 2,193 reported cases and 854 deaths. But there have also been small but significant numbers of cases elsewhere in the Middle East, including Qatar.
A total of 28 MERS cases were seen in Qatar, which has a population of 2.9 million. Three cases were documented in 2022 alone. That doesn’t sound like much, but researchers argue that people at risk of developing the disease, such as those with compromised immune systems, should be aware of the risk and avoid any contact with camels.
Epidemiological data from Qatar says 28 MERS cases have a history of contact with camels. Therefore, people at higher risk of developing serious illness are advised to avoid contact with dromedary camels, drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been cooked properly.
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