Despite Rising Number of Deaths, SARS-Like MERS-CoV is Still NOT a Global Health Menace – WHO

Despite a steadily rising number of deaths now at 45 worldwide, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is still not considered a global health menace, a panel of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.

Although it has infected at least 82 people around the world, it was observed however that majority of the 45 recorded deaths come only from the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia.

"They're not saying this is not important, they're saying let's just now move onto other things," Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general for health security and environment of WHO, said at the agency's headquarters in Geneva after the panel's decision. "Declarations and events have to be proportional to each other. Otherwise you begin to lose credibility."

Margaret Chan, WHO's director-general, in May 2013 described MERS-CoV as a "... threat to the entire world."

On Wednesday, a 15-member committee discussed through teleconference the threat posed by MERS-CoV, in light of the upcoming annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage seasons in Saudi Arabia. The committee included representatives from six other predominantly Muslim countries as well as Saudi Arabia's deputy health minister Ziad Memish.

Read: Saudi Arabia 2013 Hajj, Umrah: No Visa for Medically Unfit, Pilgrims Advised to Wear Masks

"We are not saying the virus is not concerning. But do keep us updated," Mr Fukuda stressed.

"Based on these views and the currently available information, the (WHO) Director-General (Margaret Chan) accepted the Committee's assessment that the current MERS-CoV situation is serious and of great concern, but does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at this time," WHO said in a statement issued in Geneva.