THREE people in Saudi Arabia who have had no direct contact with camels have contracted ‘camel flu’, sparking concern among scientists.
It is not clear how the unnamed men caught the virus, which can kill up to 35 per cent of the people it infects.
The pathogen, known as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), typically comes from camels, which is why it is often dubbed ‘camel flu’.
Most previous outbreaks are traced back to people working in close contact with the animals or their raw milk.
A handful of cases are known to have been passed on via human-to-human transmission.
However, this mode of transmission is very rare and usually only happens through sharing bodily liquids, such as breastfeeding.
www.thesun.co.uk/health/27892583/outbreak-fears-camel-flu-saudi-arabia/