MERS doesn't meet conditions to be public health emergency, panel tells WHO

HEALTH HEADLINES

MERS doesn't meet conditions to be public health emergency, panel tells WHO

Helen Branswell The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, July 17, 2013 1:31PM EDT

An electron microscope image of a coronavirus, provided by the British Health Protection Agency, is shown. The virus is part of a family of viruses that cause ailments, including the common cold and SARS, and was first identified last year in the Middle East. (Health Protection Agency)

Text:

TORONTO -- An expert panel has advised the World Health Organization that the MERS outbreak doesn't currently meet the conditions of a public health emergency of international concern.

The group, which includes Public Health Agency of Canada expert Dr. Theresa Tam, met today to consider whether to advise the WHO to declare the outbreak an emergency.

A press release from the WHO says Director General Margaret Chan accepts the committee's assessment.

The release says the committee's decision was unanimous and was based on the information available to date.

The new MERS coronavirus has infected at least 84 people since April 2012, killing 45 of them.

The committee did give the WHO advice on how to improve surveillance for cases, enhance laboratory capacity and improve tracing of contacts of known cases.

The WHO release says it also offered technical advice on travel-related guidance and on studies that should be conducted to find the source of the virus.