Medical staff across England have been put on alert for signs of the deadly camel flu as World Cup fans return from Qatar.
Cases of the flu could now rise due to the huge numbers of fans who flocked to the Middle Eastern country for the tournament and who may have been exposed to camels.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has prompted doctors to look out for people suffering from breathing difficulties and a fever.
The illness is deadlier than Covid-19, with over a third of its sufferers dying, compared to less than 4 per cent of Covid sufferers.
A briefing note was sent out by the HSA, according to The Sun, stating: "Clinicians and public health teams should specifically be alert to the possibility of MERS in returning travellers from the World Cup.
“The risk of infection to UK residents is very low but may be higher in those with exposure to specific risk factors within the region - such as to camels.
“MERS can be acquired from close contact with camels or from consuming camel products e.g., unpasteurised camel milk.”
The briefing also warned of "person-to-person transmission".
There had already been two cases reported in Qatar this year, both of which had been exposed to camels, it said.
Between April 2012 and October 2022, there had been 2,600 cases in 12 Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eatern countries. Of those cases, 935 people died - 36 per cent.
Some sufferers of MERS showed no symptoms, though others would suffer from a fever, cough, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Camel riding is a popular pastime in Qatar, both among locals and tourists. A herd would regularly patrol the seafront promenade close to the England team's Souq Al Wakra Hotel base.
Before the World Cup tournament started, fans had been warned to stay away from the animals for fear of catching the disease.
At the time of writing, there had been no confirmed cases of camel flu among returning England fans.
