One of the biggest and extravagant worldwide events, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will witness about 1.2 million spectators from around the globe to Qatar. According to reports, experts have warned that football fans in Qatar may be at risk of being infected with the “Camel Flu”.
The WHO-backed experts have warned that the FIFA World Cup 2022 may attract Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), more commonly known as Camel Flu, which can be deadlier than COVID-19. The disease was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Fever, coughing, and shortness of breath are common MERS symptoms. Although pneumonia is common, MERS patients may not always get the illness. Diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal symptoms have also been noted in MERS patients. The mortality rate of the disease is a whopping 35%.
According to studies, contact with an infected person, whether direct or indirect, can result in human infection. Travellers to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup 2022 have also been warned not to touch camels, which are thought to be the source of the deadly infection. Camel rides and safari vacations are still being advertised by tourism businesses in Qatar.
When Saudi Arabia first reported MERS in 2012, it has further caused 2,600 cases with 935 associated deaths in 27 different countries, according to an article in UK-based science website IFLScience.
