The Department of Health has issued a travel advisory to potential travellers to the Middle East.There’s currently a serious respiratory illness of unknown cause afflicting individuals in that region.The illness, known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first reported in the region last year.To date, nine countries have been affected, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to coordinate a global response to this emerging virus.Based on International Health Regulations, WHO advised that at this time, the risk to individual travellers is considered to be very low, although travellers with pre-existing chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic bronchitis or immunodeficiencies should beware.A spokesperson said: “These conditions can increase the likelihood of medical problems, including MERS-CoV infection, during travel.“As a result, travellers should consult a healthcare provider before travelling to review the risk and assess whether making the journey is medically advisable.“Travellers who develop respiratory infection during their trip (especially infection accompanied by fever, coughing or shortness of breath) or other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, should be advised to minimise their contact with others to keep from infecting them.WHO also advised travellers to “cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and discard the tissue in the trash after use and wash hands afterwards”.If this is not possible, “cough or sneeze into upper sleeves not in their hands”.Hands should be washed often with soap and water or use hand sanitisers when water is not readily accessible.Good food safety practices are also advised, such as avoiding undercooked meat or food prepared under unsanitary conditions, and properly washing fruits and vegetables before eating them. Unnecessary contact with farm, domestic and wild animals should also be avoided and good personal hygiene should be maintained.Anyone returning to Bermuda from the Middle East should seek medical attention and immediately notify their local health authority if they develop acute febrile respiratory illness during the two weeks after their return.Additionally, anyone who has had close contact with a traveller with acute febrile respiratory illness and who themselves develop the same condition should report to local health authorities to be monitored for MERS-CoV.