Comment: reaction from Dr Ben Neuman and Professor Ian Jones on WHO MERS announcement
Release Date 14 May 2014
Dr Ben Neuman, virologist at the University of Reading, said:
"This is a measured and sensible reaction to an evolving epidemic. There is already a substantial worldwide effort between scientists, doctors and public health officials to understand and stop the spread of MERS coronavirus. It is important to remember that MERS still does not spread very efficiently between people. It is a very serious disease if you are unlucky enough to catch it, but the odds of catching the virus - even in Saudi Arabia - are still very small."
Professor Ian Jones, Professor of Virology, University of Reading, said:
"Although the recent spike in cases appears alarming the basic facts about MERS remain unchanged: it is an animal virus that only occasionally infects man. There is no evidence of any change in the virus that could herald wider spread. The cases in transit through the UK are health care workers who have come into contact with an unknown source of MERS. They have not passed the virus more widely and the general risk assessment remains very low. These recent hospital acquired cases don't appear to have had any notable camel contact, so the origin of the infection remains unclear."