Can You Get Sick From Camel? [6 Contagious Camel Diseases]

From camels roaming the desert to camel milk being a popular beverage in the Middle East, there’s no denying that camels are an integral part of many cultures. But you may be wondering – can you get sick from camel products? The short answer is yes. Although rare, it is possible for people to become ill from consuming or coming into contact with camel products. In this blog post, we will discuss what ailments could be caused by camel products and how to avoid them. We will also look at the benefits of camel milk and why it’s becoming increasingly popular among health-conscious consumers.

Which Disease Is Spread By Camel?

Camelpox and dromedary blesbuck fever are both diseases that can be spread by camel. Both of these diseases are relatively rare, but they can be serious if contracted by humans.

Camelpox is caused by a virus and is most commonly seen in young camels. Symptoms of camelpox include fever, lethargy, and skin lesions.

Dromedary blesbuck fever is caused by a bacteria and can cause fever, diarrhea, and vomiting in camels. It is important to note that neither of these diseases can be spread to humans through contact with camel milk or meat.

MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – is a serious respiratory illness that can be spread by camel products. MERS is a viral illness that can cause fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. There is currently no vaccine available for MERS, and it is not known how long the virus can remain active in camel products.

1) Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The cause of MERS is a previously unknown coronavirus, and it is thought to have originated in camels.

Since its discovery, MERS has spread to 27 countries, including the United States. However, the majority of cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia.

MERS is similar to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), another coronavirus that emerged in 2003. Both viruses cause severe respiratory illness, but MERS appears to be more deadly, with a fatality rate of approximately 34%.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for MERS, so prevention is the best way to protect yourself from this virus. If you must travel to an area where MERS is present, avoid contact with camels and camel products, such as milk and meat. Wash your hands frequently and practice good respiratory hygiene.

2) Getting Sick From Contagious Camel Milk 

Yes, you can get sick from drinking camel milk. In fact, many people who live in areas where camel milk is consumed routinely experience gastrointestinal problems after drinking it.

The main reason for this is that the milk is not pasteurized, so it may contain harmful bacteria that can cause illness. In addition, camel milk is often contaminated with sand or dirt, which can also lead to gastrointestinal problems.

3) What Is The Blood Parasite In Camel?

Camel blood is often found to be teeming with a variety of parasites, the most common of which is the trypanosome. This parasite is transmitted to camels through the bite of the tsetse fly, and can cause a disease known as trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness.

Symptoms of this disease include fever, headaches, joint pain, and eventually, coma and death. In addition to the trypanosome, other bloodborne parasites that can be found in camel populations include Leishmania species, which cause leishmaniasis (a disfiguring skin disease), and the malaria-causing Plasmodium vivax parasite.

4) Camel Viral Diseases

Currently, it is recognised that camels can transmit a number of infectious diseases, such as West Nile disease, bluetongue, and peste des petits ruminants (PPR), African horse sickness, Rift Valley fever, and PPR.

There are a few viral diseases that can be contracted from camels, the most well-known being camelpox. This disease is similar to smallpox in humans and can be deadly.

Other less serious, but still contagious, viral diseases that can be contracted from camels include camel colds and the flu.

5) The Camel Fever

Camel fever, also known as Q fever, is a bacterial infection that can be contracted by humans after exposure to infected animals, most commonly camels.

The bacteria, Coxiella burnetii, lives in the blood and tissues of infected animals and is typically spread to humans through contact with contaminated animal products or inhalation of contaminated dust particles.

Symptoms of camel fever include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and nausea. In severe cases, the infection can lead to pneumonia or meningitis. Treatment for camel fever typically involves a course of antibiotics.

6) Dromedary Camels Zoonotic Parasites

There are a number of zoonotic parasites that can be contracted from dromedary camels, including Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Giardia, and Toxoplasma gondii.

These parasites can cause a range of illnesses in humans, from mild gastrointestinal upset to more severe diarrheal diseases. In some cases, these parasites can also cause neurological problems or even death.

What Causes Camel Pox?

Camel pox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox. The camel pox virus is closely related to the variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans. Both of these viruses are members of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Camel pox is thought to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula, and it has been present in camels for centuries.

The virus is typically spread from camel to camel through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as saliva or mucus. It can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects, such as saddles or blankets. In rare cases, camel pox has been known to spread from camels to humans.

This usually occurs when humans have close contact with infected camels, such as when caring for them or slaughtering them for meat. When human infection does occur, it is typically mild and self-limiting, meaning that it will go away on its own without medical intervention. However, in some rare cases, human infection with camel pox can be more severe and even lead to death.

Conclusion

Camel meat may not be the most popular choice of meat, but it is certainly not one to be avoided. From its high nutritional value to the various health benefits it provides, camel can offer many advantages when included in a balanced diet. However, if you choose to eat this unique animal protein source, make sure that you cook it properly and avoid cross-contamination with other food sources as these could lead to serious health concerns. Ultimately, if you’re looking for something new to try and great nutritional value, then why not give camel meat a go?