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Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Two of the hospitalized at University Hospital's children
BY JACOB HOVE
Two of the patients may be infected with the virus are children of persons returned from the Middle East.
It was a man and a woman who had just returned to Denmark after a trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which earlier in the day was admitted to Odense University Hospital with symptoms of infection from SARS-like virus.
This was stated by Director of University Hospital, Jens Peter Shen, Jyllands-Posten.The family was hospitalized
Jens Peter Shen says that the two people independently had been visiting the Middle Eastern countries.
One of the hospitalized are in their late 20s and the other in the late 30s.
The hospitalized man's family has also also been hospitalized. It is about a woman and two children. A total of five people that is in the hospital.
Corona
Doctors fear that the five persons can be infected with the virus called coronavirus, which is related to the SARS virus.
"With the symptoms they have, so they meet the criteria that we saves them," says Jens Peter Steensen that await answers on samples from Statens Serum Institut (SSI) tomorrow, Wednesday.
Until then, patients in isolation, says Jens Peter Shen, who say that they all "feel good."he incubation period for the new coronavirus believed to be seven to 10 days.
Warned yesterday
Yesterday Monday advised SSI and the Board of Health who had traveled to Qatar or Saudi Arabia, to seek medical attention if they come for the first 10 days after returning got fever and cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
According to Jens Peter Shen was one patient was referred to University Hospital by his own physician.http://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/article4852049.ece
Corona virus may have come to Denmark
25TH SEPTEMBER 2012 AT. 19:38UPDATED 25TH SEPTEMBER 2012 AT. 20:05
Director of University Hospital Jens Peter Shen says tonight that five patients are admitted to the Funen hospital for observation for Corona virus. (© DR)
WRITTEN BY:
Ritzau and Laura Marie Sorensen
BBC NEWS
A new coronavirus may come to Denmark. Earlier in the day, a family of four and one more person admitted to Odense University Hospital (University Hospital), where they are under closer observation for symptoms of infection with the new virus.
- We admit them as a precaution. They look fortunately not very sick out. It should be examined to be sure that there is nothing - but they are by no means critically ill, not at all, says senior consultant at Department of Infectious Diseases at University Hospital, Svend Stensvang Pedersen:
There are different types of coronavirus, which usually give the common cold, but in rare cases can cause more serious infections of the respiratory tract, similar to symptoms of SARS virus.
- So we are currently patients for the new type of coronavirus - and in addition, a variety of more common causes of respiratory infection. We expect answers to tests for coronavirus tomorrow afternoon on 26 september, says Director of the Hospital, Jens Peter Steensen
Coming from the Middle East
Statens Serum Institut (SSI) and the Health Protection Agency (SST) sent earlier this week a recommendation out to travelers in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as after returning experienced fever and cough, andenød and difficulty breathing.
The recommendation came after they had discovered two confirmed - and a third possible - the case of a coronavirus in the two countries.
The five patients in Denmark have just been to Qatar or Saudi Arabia, says Svend Stensvang Pedersen.
- And then they have fever, cough, flu-like body pain, shortness of breath and increased secretions when they cough, he said.
Embedded in isolation
The five patients were all from South Denmark and sought medical advice earlier Tuesday. Doctors contacted the Medical Officer of Health and Hospital, where the five patients now hospitalized in isolation.
- We will cut them because we do not know anything about how well the virus spreads. Therefore, if you choose - like the bird flu and swine flu - to take them in and isolate them. So we prevent it from spreading to others, says Svend Stensvang Pedersen, adding:
- There are already reports that the new coronavirus is not contagious so much from person to person, as SARS did. But until we know more, we would like to be on the safe side and take people in, isolate and examine thoroughly.
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2012/09/25/193202.htm
Five in Denmark hospitalized with suspected dangerous virus
25th September 2012, 18:55
Five persons have been admitted to Odense University Hospital for further observation suspected of being infected with the new SARS-like virus.
Tuesday, five persons were admitted to Odense University Hospital (University Hospital) for further observation for suspected to have been infected with the new coronavirus that causes a fatal respiratory disease.
The new coronavirus belonging to the same group of viruses as SARS is over the last few days have been found in people abroad who have traveled to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. A man from just Qatar already died as a result of infection.
- So we are currently patients for the new type of coronavirus - and in addition, a variety of more common causes of respiratory infection. We expect answers to tests for coronavirus Wednesday afternoon, said hospital director Jens Peter Steensen.
- Until then, we maintain isolation measures about patients who are otherwise generally well-being and not acutely ill, he adds.
http://www.b.dk/nationalt/fem-indlag...m-farlig-virus
Five persons have been admitted to Odense University Hospital for further observation suspected of being infected with the new SARS-like virus.
Tuesday, five persons were admitted to Odense University Hospital (University Hospital) for further observation for suspected to have been infected with the new coronavirus that causes a fatal respiratory disease.
The new coronavirus belonging to the same group of viruses as SARS is over the last few days have been found in people abroad who have traveled to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. A man from just Qatar already died as a result of infection.
- So we are currently patients for the new type of coronavirus - and in addition, a variety of more common causes of respiratory infection. We expect answers to tests for coronavirus Wednesday afternoon, said hospital director Jens Peter Steensen.
- Until then, we maintain isolation measures about patients who are otherwise generally well-being and not acutely ill, he adds.
http://www.b.dk/nationalt/fem-indlag...m-farlig-virus
Patients suspected of being infected with coronavirus admitted to the University Hospital
Patients suspected of being infected with coronavirus admitted to the University Hospital
Today, 25 September, five patients have been admitted to the University Hospital for further observation for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus, which can cause severe respiratory disease.
There are various types of corona virus, which usually results in the common cold, but in rare cases can also cause more serious infections of the respiratory tract.
The new coronavirus has been found in patients abroad who have traveled to Saudi Arabia or Qatar, and the new virus belonging to the same group as the SARS coronavirus.
- Therefore, we are currently researching patients for the new type of coronavirus - and also for a wide range of more common causes of respiratory infection. We expect answers to tests for coronavirus tomorrow afternoon on 26 september, says directorJens Peter Steensen. - Until then, we maintain isolation measures about patients who otherwise are generally well-being and not acutely ill.
The incubation period for the new coronavirus believed to be seven to 10 days.
More information
Director Jens Peter Steensen 21 44 63 59
Consultant Physician at the Department of Infectious Diseases Svend Stensvang Pedersen, 40 97 36 52nd
http://www.ouh.dk/wm399771
Today, 25 September, five patients have been admitted to the University Hospital for further observation for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus, which can cause severe respiratory disease.
There are various types of corona virus, which usually results in the common cold, but in rare cases can also cause more serious infections of the respiratory tract.
The new coronavirus has been found in patients abroad who have traveled to Saudi Arabia or Qatar, and the new virus belonging to the same group as the SARS coronavirus.
- Therefore, we are currently researching patients for the new type of coronavirus - and also for a wide range of more common causes of respiratory infection. We expect answers to tests for coronavirus tomorrow afternoon on 26 september, says directorJens Peter Steensen. - Until then, we maintain isolation measures about patients who otherwise are generally well-being and not acutely ill.
The incubation period for the new coronavirus believed to be seven to 10 days.
More information
Director Jens Peter Steensen 21 44 63 59
Consultant Physician at the Department of Infectious Diseases Svend Stensvang Pedersen, 40 97 36 52nd
http://www.ouh.dk/wm399771
Five patients are hospitalized for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus
Well I am not so sure about this story but will start looking around, all I have seen so far..Don't hold me to it..
See the symptoms of the new coronavirus
25TH SEPTEMBER 2012 KL. 20.28
Five patients are hospitalized for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus.
Five patients have been hospitalized Tuesday at Odense University Hospital for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus.
It is believed that they have been infected while traveling in Qatar and Saudi Arabia recently.
The symptoms are:
Fever
* Cough - and increased secretions (mucus, ed.) By coughing
* Flu-like pain in the body
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* It takes about seven to ten days from infection to disease.
* There are different types of coronavirus, which usually give the common cold, cough and snot, but rarely can also cause more serious infections of the respiratory tract.
* The new coronavirus belonging to the same group of viruses as the SARS virus, which has led to more serious diseases.
* SARS is an acronym for 'severe acute respiratory infection'. The disease affected countries including China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan in 2003 and 2004, killing about 800 people dead across the globe.
Source: Odense University Hospital, National Board of Health, told AFP.http://politiken.dk/turengaartil/rej...-coronavirus/?
See the symptoms of the new coronavirus
25TH SEPTEMBER 2012 KL. 20.28
Five patients are hospitalized for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus.
Five patients have been hospitalized Tuesday at Odense University Hospital for symptoms of infection by a new coronavirus.
It is believed that they have been infected while traveling in Qatar and Saudi Arabia recently.
The symptoms are:
Fever
* Cough - and increased secretions (mucus, ed.) By coughing
* Flu-like pain in the body
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* It takes about seven to ten days from infection to disease.
* There are different types of coronavirus, which usually give the common cold, cough and snot, but rarely can also cause more serious infections of the respiratory tract.
* The new coronavirus belonging to the same group of viruses as the SARS virus, which has led to more serious diseases.
* SARS is an acronym for 'severe acute respiratory infection'. The disease affected countries including China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan in 2003 and 2004, killing about 800 people dead across the globe.
Source: Odense University Hospital, National Board of Health, told AFP.
http://politiken.dk/turengaartil/rej...-coronavirus/?
Qatar confirm they are free of the SARS virus
While Doha denied the spread of any infectious viruses in Qatar, after the announcement of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Qatari citizen infected people like virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) after returning from performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia at the end of the last month of Ramadan .. Saudi authorities announced that it was monitoring the situation closely following the death of two people and wounding a third, a rare form of flu is similar to the SARS virus with the Hajj season approaches, stressing that it is limited to only two deaths in three months.
Denied, Director of Public Health Department at the Supreme Council of Health in Qatar's Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, the spread of any infectious viruses in Qatar. And confirmed during a press conference held the day before yesterday, it has been put on high alert monitoring system of infectious virus in Qatar (Surrey) in cooperation with the U.S. NAMRU lab to ensure follow up on any new cases may be suspected to be infected with the disease. He added that «not yet expert discovers the reasons for the spread of the disease.
Acute Renal Failure In 2003 Probable SARS-CoV Cases
Recombinomics Commentary 22:15
September 25, 2012
He is now in a critical condition at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London.Recombinomics Commentary 22:15
September 25, 2012
"The patient, who has been isolated, is receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Ecmo) treatment, which delivers oxygen to the blood outside the body when the lungs are not able to," the hospital said in a statement.
Britain's Health Protection Agency also said the virus was from the same family as SARS but said it was different to any previously identified in humans, adding that it caused "acute respiratory illness".
WHO spokesman Gregory Haertl stressed that the new virus was not SARS itself, pointing out that what sets the new virus apart was that it caused rapid kidney failure.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a new coronavirus, and results in respiratory failure. Acute renal failure (ARF) may also occur and/or complicate the disease course
RESULTS: Patients were assigned to ARF (n = 13; 17%) and non-ARF groups (n = 65).
CONCLUSIONS: Development of ARF during the disease course in SARS patients is associated with catastrophic outcome.
The above comments (in red) describe the current Qatar case which is in critical condition in London and on an ECMO machine. The UK HPA has acknowledged that the coronavirus (CoV) belonged to the same family as the novel SARS CoV which caused the SARS cases reported in 2003. However, WHO has noted that the 2012 cases had rapid kidney (renal) failure.
In Taiwan, a sub-set of the confirmed or probable (those who died with SARS symptoms but were cremeated prior to sample collection) SARS cases developed acute renal failure, which were described in the above paper entitled “Acute renal failure in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome”, which agreed (see above comments in blue) with a similar paper on 2003 SARS cases in Hong Kong. Both studies noted that a subset of SARS cases developed rapid kidney failure which was linked to a fatal outcome.
It is likely that the two confirmed 2012 SARS CoV-like cases represent a small subset of cases which are fatal or severe and are linked to rapid kidney failure, which was observed in 2003 SARS cases, such as the reported examples in Taiwan or Hong Kong.
Novel coronavirus infection - update
Novel coronavirus infection - update
25 SEPTEMBER 2012 - As of 25 September 2012, no additional cases of acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure due to infection with a novel coronavirus have been reported to WHO. WHO is continuing investigations into two recently confirmed infections identified as a novel coronavirus. Today WHO issued an interim case definition to help countries strengthen health protection measures against the new virus.
The case definition, based on the cases so far, includes criteria for identifying a ‘patient under investigation’, a ‘probable case’ and a ‘confirmed case’. These criteria are based on clinical, epidemiological and laboratory indicators.
Following the confirmation of the novel coronavirus, WHO - under the International Health Regulations - immediately alerted all its Member States about the virus and has been leading the coordination and providing guidance to health authorities and technical health agencies. WHO is also identifying a network of laboratories that can provide expertise on coronaviruses for countries.
On 22 September 2012, the United Kingdom (UK) informed WHO of a case of acute respiratory syndrome with travel history to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar.
The case is a previously healthy, 49 year-old male Qatari national that presented with symptoms on 3 September 2012 with travel history to KSA several days prior to onset of illness. On 7 September he was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha, Qatar. On 11 September, he was transferred to the UK by air ambulance from Qatar. The Health Protection Agency of the UK (HPA) conducted laboratory testing and subsequently confirmed the presence of the novel coronavirus.
The HPA compared the sequencing of the virus isolate from the 49 year-old Qatari national with that of a virus sequenced previously by the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Netherlands. This latter isolate was obtained from lung tissue of a fatal case earlier this year in a 60 year-old Saudi national. This comparison indicated 99.5% identity, with one nucleotide mismatch over the regions compared.
Though it is a very different virus to SARS, given the severity of the two confirmed cases so far, WHO is engaged in further characterizing the novel coronavirus. As such, international efforts are being stepped up across all WHO six regions to ensure an appropriate and effective response with a WHO specialist team in daily contact with more than a dozen international and regional technical partners.
In addition WHO is working closely with KSA, as in previous years, to support the country’s health measures for all visitors participating in the Haji pilgrimage to Mecca next month.
For more details:
http://www.who.int/influenza/case_definition_NovelCoronavirus_20120925/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/ith/updates/20120730/en/index.html http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_09_25/en/index.html
Virus advisory issued to OFWs in Saudi, Qatar
MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been advised to observe proper hygiene to avoid contracting a new flu strain similar to the potentially fatal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The advice was issued yesterday by doctors assigned at the quarantine section of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) of a case of the new flu strain reported in the United Kingdom...
NAIA quarantine doctor Caloy de la Reyna said proper hygiene by washing hands with soap regularly and clean surroundings will prevent the spread of the virus.
“There’s no need to panic, we are observing all incoming passengers from the Middle East and other parts of the world using our thermal scanners,” he said.http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx...bCategoryId=68
S. Arabia downplays impact of mystery virus on Hajj
Saudi health authorities downplayed Tuesday the impact of a possible outbreak of a virus from the family of deadly SARS on its forthcoming Hajj pilgrimage, stressing that the cases remain rare.
Pilgrims have begun to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the ritual that represents the world's largest annual gathering as some two million faithful are expected to descend on the Muslim holy city of Mecca for the hajj which peaks in late October.
"There have been two cases of flu over a period of time. This is normal," said health ministry spokesman Khaled al-Mirghalani.
"There are no changes to the conditions put by the health ministry to pilgrims," he said, adding that authorities remain vigilant.
The undersecretary for preventive medicine at the Saudi health ministry, Ziyad Memish, said the "virus has been in the kingdom for three months."
He, however, insisted the situation was "stable and no new cases have been recorded." Memish said the kingdom is not planning to impose new preventive measures on pilgrims...
"This is not SARS, it will not become SARS, and it is not SARS-like," said Gregory Haertl, a WHO spokesman in Geneva, pointing out that what sets the new virus apart was that it caused rapid kidney failure...
Vietnam’s new strain of bird flu spreading fast
Last Updated: Friday, September 21, 2012 08:50:00
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Local authorities worry that it took just one month to spread from north to central Vietnam, but international experts do not predict a worse scenario than in previous years
This picture taken on March 16 shows slaughtered chickens being displayed for sale at a local market in Hanoi. A new strain of the bird flu virus, which is deadly to humans, has appeared in Vietnam and is spreading rapidly, according to the Department of Animal Health. Photo: AFP
A new strain of the H5N1 virus known as bird flu has appeared in Vietnam, but the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says there is no reason to believe it is any more virulent than previous strains.
“In the past, the occurrence of variations in the virus has resulted in limited upsurges of outbreaks and the FAO expects this situation will be the same,” the UN agency said in a statement to Vietweek.
According to the Vietnamese Department of Animal Health, bird flu outbreaks have been detected in the northern and central provinces of Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Quang Ngai, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang, where more than 180,000 chickens and ducks have been culled so far.
“There is a new strain of the H5N1 virus that is spreading fast with a high capacity to kill humans,” Diep Kinh Tan, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said at a recent meeting of the National Committee for Avian Influenza Disease Control and Prevention.
“The central government is very concerned,” he said.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has also instructed relevant agencies nationwide to enforce bird flu control protocols and establish inspection teams to monitor bird flu prevention measures.
The agriculture ministry will coordinate with provinces and cities to detect the presence of H5N1 in poultry early in order to immediately inform health agencies to take preventive measures to limit the number of human infections.
Hoang Van Nam, acting director of the Department of Animal Health, said the new H5N1 strain is “more toxic” than previous ones.
He said the strain belongs to a subclade of the 2.3.2.1 clade that infected poultry in Vietnam in 2011.
“There is a high possibility that this new subclade will spread wider,” he said.
Nguyen Tung, deputy director of the Central Veterinary Diagnosis Center, said the new strain appeared in July and took just one month to spread from north to central Vietnam.
“The center will test existing vaccines against the new strain,” he said.
Smuggled chicks to blame?
Nguyen Thanh Son, deputy director of the Husbandry Department said he suspected that the source of the new strain of infected poultry was chicken smuggled into the country from China.
“The virus spread where the smuggled chicken was being brought to,” he explained.
Deputy minister Tan instructed the Husbandry Department to step up surveillance efforts aimed at preventing newly-hatched chickens from China from entering Vietnam for breeding, which carries far greater risk of spreading the virus than chicken for food.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bird flu has been especially deadly in Vietnam, which has recorded at least 61 deaths among 122 infected patients since 2003.
The avian influenza virus has killed 349 people among 594 cases worldwide, and scientists have voiced concern it could mutate into a form readily transmissible between humans, with the potential to kill millions.
Two of the four people within Vietnam to become infected this year have died. The most recent fatality was a man from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak in March – several months before the new strain was identified.
However, the WHO and the FAO, while calling for preventive measures, both said the presence of the new strain does not mean that major outbreaks are more likely to occur.
The FAO has an on-going program to support the Department of Animal Health to control avian flu and is helping the department identify the new strain.
“It is likely that some but not all available vaccines will protect against this variant,” the organization said. “A vaccine trial has been set up by the Department of Animal Health to test a newly available vaccine against this variant and earlier viruses present in Vietnam.
“Older ducks are resistant to H5N1 disease, whereas young ducks are more susceptible. Therefore, some areas will experience more severe outbreaks depending on the age of the poultry population being raised there.”
According to the WHO, bird flu infections among humans are rare, sporadic and occur mostly in areas where the virus is circulating endemically among poultry.
“There is currently no evidence to suggest that this present strain of the H5N1 virus will have an increased risk to human health,” the UN agency said. http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20120921-vietnams-new-strain-of-bird-flu-spreading-fast.aspx?
Osterhaus bends over new coronavirus
Osterhaus bends over new coronavirus
12/09/25 - 16:40 Source: Reuters
© Reuters.
Is it coincidence that in a few months time, two people have been infected with a new type of coronavirus or is there something around? That is the question virologist Ab Osterhaus (Erasmus MC) and his colleagues at home and abroad are currently bending. Also, they are eagerly looking for the source of infection.
"We are now working on a method which we this virus early diagnose. We also work on means by which we can fight, if need be: vaccines and antivirals, "said Osterhaus. The question is whether the virus from person to person can be. Currently, research is carried out in the contact area of the two patients. The question is whether people with whom they have been in contact antibodies have created. This may indicate that the virus from human to human transmission is. "But we should be careful. It may also be that the people who have antibodies with the same source have been in trouble. A bat example. Then it is possible that they are not infected each other, but that both the infected bat. " According to the RIVM in the Netherlands are not known infections. Symptoms that a patient receives when he is infected, include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. The two known patients had severe pneumonia and kidney problems.http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Nederlan...navirus.dhtml?
12/09/25 - 16:40 Source: Reuters
© Reuters.
Is it coincidence that in a few months time, two people have been infected with a new type of coronavirus or is there something around? That is the question virologist Ab Osterhaus (Erasmus MC) and his colleagues at home and abroad are currently bending. Also, they are eagerly looking for the source of infection.
"We are now working on a method which we this virus early diagnose. We also work on means by which we can fight, if need be: vaccines and antivirals, "said Osterhaus. The question is whether the virus from person to person can be. Currently, research is carried out in the contact area of the two patients. The question is whether people with whom they have been in contact antibodies have created. This may indicate that the virus from human to human transmission is. "But we should be careful. It may also be that the people who have antibodies with the same source have been in trouble. A bat example. Then it is possible that they are not infected each other, but that both the infected bat. " According to the RIVM in the Netherlands are not known infections. Symptoms that a patient receives when he is infected, include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. The two known patients had severe pneumonia and kidney problems.
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Nederlan...navirus.dhtml?
Health": Kuwait free of the virus, "Corona"
Dr. Yusuf Mndkar Director in the Department of Public Health and the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health that no cases of Corona virus, which is similar to influenza in the country, stressing that it does not require the declaration of a state of emergency.
http://www.moheet.com/2012/09/25/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7/
http://www.moheet.com/2012/09/25/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7/
Ebola scare in Zim
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| Monday, 24 September 2012 20:22 |
 Zimbabweans are at risk of contracting the deadly Ebola virus which has been reported in the DRC as the country does not have enough trained health personnel to control ports of entry.The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Gerald Gwinji said although government is on high alert and surveillance systems have been activated, the shortage of port health technicians at the country’s border posts is compromising the whole situation. Dr Gwinji said only 19 port health technicians and 6 environmental health officers are manning the country’s entry points, a figure which is way below the required number of over 50. The Zimbabwe women’s soccer team, the Mighty Warriors, have a date with the DRC women soccer team this weekend and observers have urged responsible authorities to ensure that all the necessary steps to screen the visitors are conducted. http://www.zbc.co.zw/news-categories/health/23701-ebola-scare-in-zim.html |
'Sars' patient fights for life at St Thomas' after flying into London from Qatar
'Sars' patient fights for life at St Thomas' after flying into London from Qatar
25 September 2012
The London hospital treating a man struck down by an illness similar to Sars has been named as St Thomas’.
Experts at the Lambeth hospital, which specialises in respiratory illnesses, have put him in isolation and are treating him by oxygenating his blood outside his body.
The 49-year-old patient who was born in Qatar caught the illness in Saudi Arabia and travelled by air ambulance for treatment in the UK.
He is the second person confirmed with the coronavirus, which has been likened to the Sars virus that killed hundreds of people in 2002.
The first case was a 60-year-old man in Saudi Arabia who died in July. The two patients never met. The Health Protection Agency is also investigating a third possible case.
Specialists at St Thomas’ are using a procedure known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment.
All medical staff who come into contact with the patient are following strict infection prevention and control procedures and wearing masks and protective gloves.
It is believed he developed a severe chest infection and renal failure after visiting Saudi Arabia. He was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha in September but when the illness worsened he was flown to a private hospital in London.
He was then transferred to St Thomas’ which specialises in treating respiratory infections and is currently being given intensive care in an isolation unit.
Officials are still determining what threat the new virus may pose.
A spokesman for Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: “The patient has been identified as having a new type of coronavirus and we are working closely with the Health Protection Agency and following their guidance.
“The patient, who has been isolated, is receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, which delivers oxygen to the blood outside the body when the lungs are not able to. We are one of five designated specialist centres in the UK to offer this treatment.
“We are following strict infection prevention and control procedures to protect patients and staff.
“There is no evidence that the virus has been transmitted to any other patient or member of staff. However, staff involved in caring for this patient are being followed up by occupational health as a precaution.”
Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the HPA said there was no specific evidence of the virus spreading from person-to-person.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which includes ones that cause the common cold as well as ones that cause Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome).
There was a global outbreak of Sars in 2002 which killed around 800 people.http://www.standard.co.uk/news/healt...r-8175088.html
25 September 2012
The London hospital treating a man struck down by an illness similar to Sars has been named as St Thomas’.
Experts at the Lambeth hospital, which specialises in respiratory illnesses, have put him in isolation and are treating him by oxygenating his blood outside his body.
The 49-year-old patient who was born in Qatar caught the illness in Saudi Arabia and travelled by air ambulance for treatment in the UK.
He is the second person confirmed with the coronavirus, which has been likened to the Sars virus that killed hundreds of people in 2002.
The first case was a 60-year-old man in Saudi Arabia who died in July. The two patients never met. The Health Protection Agency is also investigating a third possible case.
Specialists at St Thomas’ are using a procedure known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment.
All medical staff who come into contact with the patient are following strict infection prevention and control procedures and wearing masks and protective gloves.
It is believed he developed a severe chest infection and renal failure after visiting Saudi Arabia. He was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha in September but when the illness worsened he was flown to a private hospital in London.
He was then transferred to St Thomas’ which specialises in treating respiratory infections and is currently being given intensive care in an isolation unit.
Officials are still determining what threat the new virus may pose.
A spokesman for Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: “The patient has been identified as having a new type of coronavirus and we are working closely with the Health Protection Agency and following their guidance.
“The patient, who has been isolated, is receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, which delivers oxygen to the blood outside the body when the lungs are not able to. We are one of five designated specialist centres in the UK to offer this treatment.
“We are following strict infection prevention and control procedures to protect patients and staff.
“There is no evidence that the virus has been transmitted to any other patient or member of staff. However, staff involved in caring for this patient are being followed up by occupational health as a precaution.”
Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the HPA said there was no specific evidence of the virus spreading from person-to-person.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which includes ones that cause the common cold as well as ones that cause Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome).
There was a global outbreak of Sars in 2002 which killed around 800 people.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/healt...r-8175088.html
Health authorities allay viral outbreak fears
Tuesday, 25 September 2012 03:33
by MOHAMED IQBAL
DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) yesterday confirmed reports about a Qatari man affected with a new SARS-like respiratory virus that left him critically ill in a London hospital.
While the incident has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to issue a global alert for the virus, the SCH has discounted fears about a possible spread of the disease in the country saying no second case has been detected here until now.
The news was circulating on social media yesterday, with people expressing fears about a possible outbreak, especially during the forthcoming
Haj pilgrimage. “The one we heard today is the only case detected in Qatar until now. All members of his family have been tested, but none of them were found affected,” Dr Mohammed Al Thani, director of the Public Health Department at SCH said in a news conference held on short notice last evening.
He said the victim had contracted the illness in Saudi Arabia where he went for Umrah earlier this month.
The 49-year-old Qatari was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha on September 7 suffering from acute respiratory infection and kidney failure before being transferred to Britain by air ambulance on September 11, the WHO said yesterday.
“He was admitted to the HMC but we decided to send him to the UK when we found that he needed further tests,” said Mohammed Al Thani.
A Saudi Arabian national died earlier this year from a virtually identical virus, the WHO said, while Saudi medical authorities said they were investigating other possible cases of the disease.
The WHO confirmed the illness belongs to coronavirus family but was not SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which swept out of China in 2003, killing more than 800 people worldwide.
“These are the only two known cases of the disease until now. A third suspected case was reported but it has not been confirmed. The family members of the Saudi victim were also tested but none of them was found infected. We don’t have enough information about the illness. We still cannot say whether it will spread through human contact, or if it is curable,” said Mohammed Al Thani.
Dr Abdullatheef Al Khal, head of the communicable diseases section at HMC said HMC had alerted all its hospitals and emergency departments about the new disease. The illness was detected in the UK because the HMC laboratory does not have the facilities to identify the virus, he added
“We want to reassure the public that there is nothing to worry since there is no indication of the illness spreading fast. It has not yet become an epidemic. However, we are taking all necessary precautions,” said Al Khal.
He, however, added that Qatar has not initiated any special precautions for Haj pilgrims because the current situation does not demand that.
“We are advising all pilgrims to take all the required vaccinations at least two weeks in advance and follow general hygiene like washing the hands frequently during the pilgrimage,” said Al Khal.
Dr Mohammed Al Hajari, head of the communicable diseases department at SCH said Qatar was waiting for official instructions from the WHO and the Saudi authorities on precautions related to Haj pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed the presence of the new coronavirus and then found that it was a 99.5 percent match with a virus obtained from the lung tissue of the 60-year-old Saudi man who died earlier this year.
Coronaviruses are causes of the common cold but can also include more severe illnesses including SARS.
Quoting Saudi media, agencies reported yesterday that three people, including the Qatari man were diagnosed with the virus.
The HPA, stressed no one else in Britain, including those who had come into contact with the man, were reporting symptoms.
The HPA said the new virus was “different from any that have previously been identified in humans.”
It said there were encouraging signs that it was not as infectious as SARS as there had been no evidence of illness in people who had been in contact with the Qatari or the Saudi, including in health workers.
“Based on what we know about other coronaviruses, many of these contacts will already have passed the period when they could have caught the virus from the infected person,” it said.
John Oxford, professor at the University of London, said he was “somewhat relaxed” because he believed the illness was more likely to behave “like a nasty infection rather than join the ‘exception’ group like SARS.”
“This new virus does not appear to be in the same ‘big bang’ group,” he added. “I am very pleased that it does not!”
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qat...eak-fears.html
New coronavirus alert) Qatari in London remains critical
New coronavirus alert) Qatari in London remains critical
(29 mins ago)
A Qatari man suffering from a new respiratory virus from the same family as the deadly virus that causes SARS, remains in critical condition, the World Health Organization said today.
“He is still in critical condition'' at a London hospital, Gregory Haertl, a spokesman for the United Nations health body, said in Geneva.
The 49-year-old Qatari was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha on September 7 suffering from acute respiratory infection and kidney failure before being transferred to Britain by air ambulance on September 11, the WHO said.
A Saudi Arabian national died earlier this year from a virtually identical virus, the WHO said.
The WHO confirmed the illness was in the coronavirus family but was not SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which swept out of China in 2003, killing more than 800 people worldwide.
Haertl stressed that the coronavirus family also includes other viruses, including the common cold, and insisted the new virus was not SARS.
“This is not SARS, it will not become SARS, and it is not SARS-like,'' he said, pointing out that what sets the new virus apart was that it caused rapid kidney failure.
The WHO is cooperating with national health authorities in a bid to detect other cases, and was planning to publish an update later Tuesday, Haertl said.
He stressed though that very little was known about the new virus so far, pointing out that there were only two confirmed cases, which popped up three months apart and with no connection besides the fact that both men had links to Saudi Arabia.
“We don't know yet how it transmits... if it's human to human or animal to human,’’ he said, pointing out that the virus might also provoke milder, and therefore undetected illness. “We are very much in an investigative period,'' he said. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=25541&icid=a&d_str=
(29 mins ago)
A Qatari man suffering from a new respiratory virus from the same family as the deadly virus that causes SARS, remains in critical condition, the World Health Organization said today.
“He is still in critical condition'' at a London hospital, Gregory Haertl, a spokesman for the United Nations health body, said in Geneva.
The 49-year-old Qatari was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha on September 7 suffering from acute respiratory infection and kidney failure before being transferred to Britain by air ambulance on September 11, the WHO said.
A Saudi Arabian national died earlier this year from a virtually identical virus, the WHO said.
The WHO confirmed the illness was in the coronavirus family but was not SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which swept out of China in 2003, killing more than 800 people worldwide.
Haertl stressed that the coronavirus family also includes other viruses, including the common cold, and insisted the new virus was not SARS.
“This is not SARS, it will not become SARS, and it is not SARS-like,'' he said, pointing out that what sets the new virus apart was that it caused rapid kidney failure.
The WHO is cooperating with national health authorities in a bid to detect other cases, and was planning to publish an update later Tuesday, Haertl said.
He stressed though that very little was known about the new virus so far, pointing out that there were only two confirmed cases, which popped up three months apart and with no connection besides the fact that both men had links to Saudi Arabia.
“We don't know yet how it transmits... if it's human to human or animal to human,’’ he said, pointing out that the virus might also provoke milder, and therefore undetected illness. “We are very much in an investigative period,'' he said. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=25541&icid=a&d_str=
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