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. 2015 Feb 18:12:3.
doi: 10.1186/s12982-015-0025-8. eCollection 2015.

Pilgrims and MERS-CoV: what's the risk?

Tarek Soliman  1 , Alex R Cook  2 , Richard J Coker  3
Affiliations

Pilgrims and MERS-CoV: what's the risk?

Tarek Soliman et al. Emerg Themes Epidemiol. .

Abstract

The risk of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus spreading globally is worrying, given the annual mass gathering of the Hajj and the year-long influx of pilgrims undertaking the Umrah. Based on the incidence in Saudi Arabia since June 2012, the most likely scenario given recent pilgrim numbers is estimated to be one case per Hajj, and three Umrah pilgrims per year, but which could plausibly reach seven and ten pilgrims respectively. In addition to the 2015 Hajj, national surveillance systems should be on the alert for the low but long-lasting risk of infected pilgrims returning from the Umrah throughout the year.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Mass gathering.

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References

    1. The WHO MERS-CoV Research Group. State of Knowledge and Data Gaps of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Humans. PLoS Curr. 2013. Available: http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/?p=23143. Accessed 20 June 2014. - PMC - PubMed
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    1. WHO . Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) summary and literature update–as of 11 June 2014. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2014.
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