Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.  As of mid-June 2014, 700 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with MERS-CoV have been reported to WHO, including at least 209 deaths. To date, 22 countries have reported cases but so far all cases have been exposed in the Middle East. The virus has been isolated from dromedary camels and seroprevalence studies seems to indicate it is circulating widely in the camel population of the Arabian Peninsula ad parts of Africa. It is not yet understood exactly how people become infected but direct or indirect contact with camels is suspected. Camels are believed to be a likely primary reservoir for MERS-CoV. Others cases have acquired their infection through human to human transmission especially in health-care associated outbreaks. However, the virus does not seem to be easily transmissible among people. The virus has been detected in camels at slaughtering and a number of slaughterhouse workers and farm workers handling camels are seropositive for MERS-CoV indicating a possible higher risk of contracting the infection along that food chain. Trace of MERS-CoV have also been detected in camel milk and this has prompted fear that consumption of camel milk and other raw camel products could be source of infection. The session will present an update on our understanding of this emerging disease and its possible links to food production and food consumption.

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