Camel flu kills in Europe: A coronavirus without treatment or vaccine

By:Souleymane Loum

Many may not have heard of it, but camel flu, caused by a coronavirus, has recently killed two people in Europe. These individuals succumbed to the highly infectious disease, for which there is currently no treatment.

Reports from the British newspaper The Sun reveal that these victims had underlying health conditions, which worsened the severity of the virus, similar to how COVID-19 impacts individuals with diabetes, hypertension, or obesity. Outbreaks of camel flu have been identified in Saudi Arabia’s three locations: Riyadh, East, and Qassim. As the name implies, the disease is transmitted by infected camels or dromedaries, and nearly 36% of those infected do not survive.

According to the same source, one of the four victims owned a camel, while another had contact with a camel owner. Nevertheless, for the other two cases, there was no known exposure to camels in the weeks leading up to the onset of symptoms. All infected people exhibit common symptoms, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, respiratory failure can occur, leading to death.

Camel flu is a relatively recent disease, first found in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Since then, there have been 2,200 cases and 939 deaths, primarily in the Arabian Peninsula, although the virus has spread to other regions such as the United Kingdom. The lack of a vaccine or treatment for camel flu remains a significant concern.

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights on its website the importance of frequent handwashing before and after handling animals and avoiding contact with infected animals. Additionally, caution is advised regarding consuming raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat.