Five patients not infected with corona virus

BBC NEWS

The five persons admitted for observation for corona virus at Odense University Hospital (University Hospital), can breathe a sigh of relief.

They are not infected with corona virus, but ordinary flu. This was stated by Chief Physician at University Hospital, Svend Stensvang-Pedersen, to ABC News.

The five patients - a family of four and one more person - was yesterday admitted for observation yesterday because they had synptomer the corona virus. They have now all been informed that they are not infected.

It remains to be seen whether the person is hospitalized for observation for corona virus at Hvidovre Hospital, is infected or not.  http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2012/09/26/154213.htm

Five patients not infected with corona virus

Five patients not infected with corona virus

The five persons admitted for observation for corona virus at Odense University Hospital can breathe a sigh of relief.

They are not infected with the virus. This was stated by Chief Physician at University Hospital Svend Stensvang-Pedersen to BBC News.  http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2012/09/26/154213.htm

the CDC is aaaaful quiet..

 the CDC is aaaaful quiet..
 http://www.cdc.gov/media/archives.htm
 http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/
 https://twitter.com/CDCgov/with_replies

Virus on OUH?: Staff in armor

According to Svend Stensvang Pedersen, a senior consultant at the Department of Infectious Diseases, the family is isolated on a two-bed room - the kids do not take up so much, explains consultant - and the fifth patient is in a different room.  http://www.fyens.dk/article/2163234:Indland-Fyn--Virus-paa-OUH---Personalet-i-beskyttelsesdragter

Hvidovre Hospital patients in high-risk isolation

A patient arrived at Hvidovre Hospital yesterday, Tuesday, and are suspected of being infected with coronaviruses.
By Hanne Ida Alsbirk, Communications 


Photo: Joachim Rode

patient be isolated at Department of Infectious Diseases, until tests show whether the patient is positive or not. Later today, Wednesday, sample answer from Statens Serum Institut ready.

Corona Virus can cause serious infections of the respiratory tract and can potentially be fatal. The incubation period for the new Corona virus is not clear, but is supposed to be 7-10 days.

The man stayed in areas focused on in relation to Corona Virus and since he exhibits symptoms, he lies in high-risk isolation.

It should be emphasized that it is not yet confirmed that in the case of Corona Virus patient at Hvidovre Hospital. Facts: Read the Department of Infectious Diseases Odense University Hospital (University Hospital) received yesterday five people who are suspected of the same type of virus. Read more on dr.dk / news Statens Serum Institut Monday to talk about a case of Corona virus found in a patient in a hospital in England. This patient comes from an African country, and had been on a trip to Saudi Arabia.http://www.hvidovrehospital.dk/menu/...-isolation.htm

Five people have been hospitalized for observation

Five people have been hospitalized for observation for Corona virus at Odense University Hospital.

Samples from the five hospitalized is being under increased at Statens Serum Institut. So far it is known that is not on the five are infected with the dangerous virus.

- From a probability given, then it is very unlikely that they have it, assess Svend Stensvang Pedersen.

If the tests prove to be negative, then they will, according to senior consultant Svend Stensvang Pedersen, be discharged later today.



- I hope we get answers to tests in the afternoon, but I do not know for sure whether the samples have arrived, because we sent them in a taxi last night. I'll check up on them a little, but I think immediately that we first get answers to tests after three o'clock, says Svend Stensvang Pedersen, senior consultant at Department of Infectious Diseases at University Hospital.

Corona virus has broken out in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. So far, three were infected, one of which is dead. The virus is a SARS-like virus, the extent is not yet known completely.



Four of the hospitalized is a family where one parent came home from Saudi Arabia with flu symptoms. The past has no relation to the family.

- They all slept well all night, and they're fine now.

So far, they remain in isolation on infectious diseases ward at University Hospital.http://ekstrabladet.dk/kup/sundhed/article1833753.ece

New patients hospitalized with SARS-like virus

New patients hospitalized with SARS-like virus


How It probably out at Hvidovre Hospital in Infectious Diseases department right now, where you have received a patient with SARS-like virus. Note that the image here is from an exercise at Hvidovre Hospital.

Hvidovre Hospital has admitted a patient at high risk isolation. He feared to be the sixth in Denmark, which may be infected with the SARS-like Corona virus.

http://www.b.dk/nationalt/ny-patient-indlagt-med-sars-lignende-virus

New coronavirus not SARS: Thomas Tsang

September 26, 2012

The genetic structure of the new strain of coronavirus and the SARS coronavirus is different, and should not be mistaken to be the same virus.
 
This was the message from Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang today, telling the media that, genetically, the new coronavirus found abroad recently is different to the SARS coronavirus that struck Hong Kong in 2003.
 
SARS belongs to family 2B of the coronavirus family, while this new infection belongs to group 2C.
 
However, he said the Government still needs to implement considerable health measures to safeguard the public, as little is known about the new virus. It has stepped up surveillance measures to detect any cases that come up in Hong Kong.
 
“We have sent guidelines on infection control and hygiene to numerous institutions, including the tourism industry, airlines, schools, hospitals, and also our frontline staff, so they know exactly how to handle potential cases.
 
“We also have a plan to make this new coronavirus a notifiable disease under Hong Kong law so we will be able to use legal instruments in implementing appropriate control measures against this new virus.”
 
He said the Government is aware of the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, which will see many people travelling to the Middle East next month. It has been contacting consulates and religious groups to ensure health advice gets to these travellers so they can take precautions against infection.
 
Mr Tsang said the Government Laboratory is able to test for the new virus, as the virus sequence has been outlined by UK health authorities.
 
“If we have a sample, it will take us about two days to come up with a positive result.”
 
The Government is aware of media reports of five patients in a Denmark hospital being tested for the new coronavirus, he said, adding it will study the results when they are issued.  http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/health/html/2012/09/20120926_144850.shtml?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hongkong_news

New patient hospitalized in high-risk isolation of SARS-like virus

By Catherine Bloch, Berlingske News 
Wednesday 26 September 2012, 12:29 Updated: 12:31

Hvidovre Hospital has admitted a patient at high risk isolation. He feared to be the sixth in Denmark, which may be infected with the SARS-like Corona virus.

Danes sudden high fever, coughing and difficulty breathing after traveling to the Middle East, to be extra attentive, because it may indicate that they are infected with the dangerous SARS-like Corona virus. Hvidovre Hospital has now admitted a man in high-risk isolation for fear that he may be infected with the virus.

- We got a patient in yesterday, and right now, we are waiting for answers from the samples in order to find out whether he is infected with the virus or not, says communications director at Hvidovre Hospital, Hanne Alsbirk.

The man is thus the sixth Dane suspected infected. A family of four and a woman are already admitted to Odense University Hospital (University Hospital).

The patient at Hvidovre Hospital, like the other patients admitted to University Hospital, was on a trip to the Middle East, where there are more cases of the dangerous virus. The virus was recently found in a patient from Saudi Arabia, who died after a serious lung disease.

According to Statens Serum Institut, the new Corona vius cause serious respiratory diseases, and it belongs to the same virus group as the dangerous SARS virus back in 2002 and 2003 affected 8,000 people worldwide and required about 800 deaths.

Hanne Alsbirk from Hvidovre said they expect to get answers from tests that will show whether the hospitalized patient is infected with the virus, Wednesday afternoon. The same message comes from senior consultant at the Department of Infectious Diseases at University Hospital, Svend Stensvang Pedersen.

- Samples were sent a taxi to the Statens Serum Institut Tuesday evening, and they are just in the process of investigating them. We expect to get an answer about at 15 pm Wednesday, he said.

People who have been in Qatar or Saudi Arabia, and within 10 days of home diet have a fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, called the Statens Serum Institut website to cash doctor immediately telephone. http://www.bt.dk/danmark/ny-patient-indlagt-i-hoejrisiko-isolation-med-sars-lignende-virus

New coronavirus-update) Two isolated in Denmark below five

New coronavirus-update) Two isolated in Denmark below five
(12 mins ago)

Two of the five persons showing symptoms of infection from a new coronavirus, are under five years old, a Denmark hospital said today. All of them are Danish residents and have been isolated.

Chief physician Svend Stenvang Petersen of Odense University Hospital told AFP that test results are expected in the afternoon, local time.
“The five have a fever, coughing and influenza-like symptoms,'' he said.
Petersen said those admitted were a family of four. The father had been to Saudi Arabia, while and an unrelated person had been to Qatar. Two of those with symptoms were under the age of five.

“We have put them in isolation because we don't know how the virus spreads. So just as with bird and swine flu we have admitted them and isolated them so that we prevent the spread to others,'' Petersen said. “We do not have any medicine that works against this virus.’’

Corona viruses are a large family of viruses including those which cause the common cold, as well as severe acute respiratory syndrome, an outbreak of which killed some 800 people in 2003.
The new corona virus is thought to have an incubation period lasting seven to 10 days, and has previously been found among patients who had traveled from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Xinhua reported that the hospital director Jens Peter Steensen told Danish media that the five patients, who are all Danish residents, will be tested for the new corona virus and for a range of more common triggers of respiratory infection.
On Monday, the Danish Health and Medicines Authority advised persons who had traveled to Qatar or Saudi Arabia to seek medical advice if they experienced fever, cough or difficulty breathing within ten days of their return from these countries.
It followed a warning from British health officials who alerted the World Health Organization on Saturday of the new virus found in a man transferred from Qatar to the UK on September 11.
The 49-year-old man, who is being treated in an intensive care unit at a London hospital for problems including kidney failure, had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, where another man with an almost identical virus, had already died. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=25575&icid=4&d_str=

Philippines, Thailand are on alert for new SARS-like virus

Airports on alert for new SARS-like virus

MANILA, Philippines – Airports are now on alert for the possible entry of a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like virus that may have come from the Middle East.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 Quarantine Head Dr. Ali Agama said they were alerted after the World Health Organization released information that a 49-year-old male Qatari who had just travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) showed symptoms last September 3.  http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/26/12/airports-alert-new-sars-virus?

Thailand is on alert   http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsworld.php?id=697368

New Patient feared infected by virus in Denmark

A total of six people is now in isolation in Denmark. Study must now disclose whether they actually are infected with Corona virus. Once a patient is sent in "high-risk isolation 'in Denmark. A family of four and a woman held currently in complete isolation in Odense University Hospital.

And now confirms Hvidovre Hospital, that there also has been a patient in the so-called "high-risk isolation '.

It happens in all cases for fear that patients have the dangerous Corona virus, which is related to the so-called SARS virus.

Corona may, according to Statens Serum Institut, cause serious respiratory illness and can at worst be fatal.  http://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/article4852749.ece?

A new coronavirus isolated from humans

25 SEPTEMBER 2012

A new coronavirus has been isolated from two individuals with severe respiratory illness. It is different from the SARS coronavirus, but health officials are nonetheless preparing for a rapid response should the virus be detected elsewhere.

The novel coronavirus was first reportedby Ali Mohamed Zaki on ProMED-mail on 15 September 2012, from a 60 year old male patient in Saudi Arabia with pneumonia and acute renal failure who died in July. The virus was isolated by culturing sputum on Vero and LLC-MK2 cells, and identified as a coronavirus by polymerase chain reaction. Dr. Zaki sent the virus to Ron Fouchier in the Netherlands who sequenced its genome and confirmed that it is a beta-coronavirus closely related to bat coronaviruses.

At the beginning of September 2012 a 49 year old male Qatari national who had previously traveled to Saudi Arabia was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha with severe respiratory illness. He was moved to the United Kingdom where laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the novel coronavirus. Comparison of a 200 nucleotide genome sequence with that from the Saudi national revealed 99.5% identity (one mismatch).Alignment of this sequence with that of other coronaviruses shows that the new virus is related to bat coronaviruses.

This new virus is not the SARS coronavirus, but because it is related to bat coronaviruses there is concern that it could spread rapidly among humans and cause serious respiratory disease. This is why WHO has placed health officials in its six regions on alert, and hasissued a case definition so that the disease may be readily detected. The definition comprises: acute respiratory syndrome which may include fever (≥ 38°C , 100.4°F) and cough requiring hospitalization or with suspicion of lower airway involvement (clinical or radiological evidence of consolidation) not explaine.. http://www.virology.ws/2012/09/25/a-new-coronavirus-isolated-from-humans/

UK agency picks name for new coronavirus isolate

Robert Roos  News Editor
Sep 25, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – As the investigation of two severe illnesses associated with a novel coronavirus continued today, the United Kingdom's Health Protection Agency (HPA) released a preliminary phylogenetic tree for the virus and tentatively named it "London1_novel CoV 2012."

As reported previously, the virus has been identified in a 49-year-old Qatari man who is in a critical care unit in a London hospital and in a 60-year-old Saudi Arabian man who died in July in his home country. Both cases involve pneumonia and kidney failure, and the Qatari man had traveled to Saudi Arabia before he got sick.

In 2003, a then-novel coronavirus caused the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak, which killed 774 people worldwide. Other coronaviruses are linked to the common cold.

The phylogenetic tree, constructed from partial sequences from the polymerase gene of various coronaviruses, shows that the new one is closely related to bat coronaviruses. The HPA also released the partial sequence for the virus's polymerase gene.

In other developments, the Europea../

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/sars/news/sep2512corona.html

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

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

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/?

Qatar confirm they are free of the SARS virus

Source: 

• Doha, Riyadh - Anwar al-Khatib and agencies

Date: September 26, 2012

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.

http://www.albayan.ae/one-world/arabs/2012-09-26-1.1734662

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.

"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

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...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/arabia-downplays-impact-mystery-virus-hajj-134443759.html?