The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is serious and of great concern, but does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at this time, said emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Fox News reports that the health experts began urgent talks on MERS on July 9 amid concerns about larger numbers of milder infections possibly going undetected.
According to the report, millions are expected to travel to Mecca in October for the haj pilgrimage, but Saudi authorities have started to cut the number of visas this year, citing safety concerns over expansion work at the main mosque site.
Cases of MERS-CoV have been found in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Britain, France, Italy and Germany. The deadly SARS-like virus has infected 82 people and killed 45 of them, the report added.
