To the Editor: Originating in Saudi Arabia in June 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a virus similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, has reached nine countries and affected 130 people, of whom 58 (45%) have died.1 The threat of this epidemic to Australia is uncertain. During the SARS epidemic, Australia was the “lucky country” — it had just six probable SARS cases and no known fatalities.2 However, about 4500 pilgrims from Australia travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for Hajj each year. About 50–150 people share a large tent (Box) and sleep in close proximity to each other for 5 days, which increases the risk of viral transmission.
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Robert Booy has received funding from Baxter, CSL Limited, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Sanofi Pasteur for the conduct of sponsored research, travel to present at conferences and consultancy work. All this funding is directed to research accounts at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.