Riyadh reported seven of the country’s nine MERS-CoV cases confirmed over April and May – five were fatal – with most of the cases linked to an outbreak at one of the city’s hospitals. This year, there have been 61 cases in total – all from the Arabian Peninsula: 57 from Saudi Arabia (10 regions), plus two in the UAE and one in Qatar. The WHO advises people with high-risk medical conditions (diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, immunocompromised state) to ‘avoid close contact with animals, particularly dromedaries, when visiting farms, markets, or barn areas where the virus is known to be potentially circulating’ and adhere to general hygiene measures. Read more
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.