Cases of New Coronavirus Increase to 7, Probably 8, WHO Reports

By Simeon Bennett on November 29, 2012

The number of people infected with the new coronavirus in the Middle East rose to seven, with another probable case, as the World Health Organization recommended other countries increase monitoring for the bug.

All eight cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia in the areas around Jeddah and Riyadh, and in Doha, Qatar, the Geneva- based WHO said in an update on its website.

The source of the virus and the means of transmission is unclear, though genetic evidence suggests it’s most closely related to a coronavirus found in bats, the WHO said. All eight cases are male, though the significance of that isn’t known, the United Nations agency said.

“The newly reported cases demonstrate that the virus has persisted over a period of at least five months and is geographically distributed over a wider area than was evidenced by the first two cases,” the WHO said. “Given that the exact extent of the distribution is unknown, WHO is taking the precaution of recommending an expansion of surveillance to monitor for the appearance of the virus in other countries.”   http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-29/cases-of-new-coronavirus-increase-to-7-probably-8-who-reports

Singapore MOH’s Notice- no cases of coronavirus in Singapore

 The Ministry of Health Singapore would like to clarify that there are no cases of novel coronavirus in Singapore, as erroneously reported in the Press Release titled " Five New Cases of SARS-like Virus Bring Total to Seven, Prompting Calls for Immediate Trials of New Synthetic Replikin Vaccine SARS2012"  (distributed by PR Newslink and eReleases).  Please refer to the MOH website for official updates on the current situation.
Last updated on 29 Nov 2012


http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/highlights/2012/moh_s_notice.html

http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home.html

Egypt-Emergence of 3 new sites for bird flu

Thursday, November 29, 2012 - 15:24

The Directorate of Veterinary Medicine Menoufia Thursday afternoon, the discovery بؤرتين new bird flu house in the village of Zinedine Center Quesna. samples were taken from birds for analysis through campaigns organized by the Directorate villages and centers the province, and samples were the result positive disease, and is currently being executed health and buried roads, with clearing houses, and take a sample of her contacts to exercise a, to make sure illness or not.  http://www1.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=861830&SecID=296&IssueID=0

The Pingyang farm days died the thousands peacock experts said has nothing to do with the avian flu

2012-11-29 11:10

Zhejiang Online News November 29

　　Farms within a day, 20 Blue Peacock collective death. The Pingyang tripod is peacock farms responsible for Ni Ye Liang the most unwilling to see the scene, have frequently staged.From November 2, a large number of blue peacock farms after another death.

　　Peacock elbow twist the back of the neck to death

　　Pingyang tripod is peacock farms in the county Kunyang Town Creek pit chomchon, covering about 6 acres. In 2008, the farm was approved by the City, the forestry sector Peacock domestication and breeding, the business scope approved by the business sector the Blue Peacock wholesale, retail.

　　Ni Ye Liang said, he founded a joint venture with two shareholders farms, from the introduction of more than 300 Blue Peacock. After five years of breeding, this year has ushered in the fifth generation of peacocks, a total of two or three thousand peacock. Before the accident, at a zoo linked to them, to buy 58 Blue Peacock.

　　When Ni Ye Liang et al. Intends to expand the scale of farming, the unexpected suddenly upon: November 2, peacock a large number of deaths. "Dying every day dozens to hundreds." Ni Ye Liang yesterday inventory found that farms are now only about 1000 left Peacock. In addition to the first-generation and fifth-generation peacock, the other generations peacock almost military destruction.

　　Operating farms in the past five years, Ni Ye Liang never encountered a similar situation.Ni, Ye Liang said, these peacocks are already vaccinated, and disinfection and other measures taken in the breeding process.

　　Ni, leaves bright introduce death of peacocks have the same characteristics: the beginning mental Weidun, loss of appetite, the fluffy feathers diarrhea; late elbow twisted neck and other symptoms. "We found, these Blue Peacock general convulsions after 10 minutes will die." Ni Ye Liang had used some veterinary drugs to prevent and treat, but does not take effect.

　　The experts diagnosed with mixed infection

　　A large number of the farms peacock death, attracted the attention of the Municipal Forestry Bureau, the Municipal Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau and other departments. On November 20, several experts came to the farm the cause of death of a large number of peacocks consultation. Pathological anatomy and laboratory testing, the cause of death basically ruled out the possibility of infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5, the preliminary diagnosis of mixed infection of Salmonella and paramyxovirus and secondary E. coli infection.

　　City Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau recommends that farms take appropriate countermeasures based on the diagnostic results: fully isolated from sick peacock; strengthen breeding farms and disinfection of entrances and exits and the surrounding environment; audience peacock emergency vaccination of new vaccines; peacocks drinking water, add spectinomycin hormone treatment; died peacock do deep burial harmless treatment.

　　Diagnostic results obtained, the farm still appear peacock large number of deaths. In this regard, the Municipal Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau, a veterinarian, this may be because the farm did not implement the proposed measures "spectinomycin in the drinking water treatment". Spectinomycin is a veterinary drug control of Salmonella, E. coli most important.  http://news.xinmin.cn/domestic/rollnews/2012/11/29/17392252.html

Interim surveillance recommendations for human infection with novel coronavirus

(28 November 2012)
Based on additional information reported since the original surveillance recommendations, WHO is
updating its previously  published guidance. WHO will continue to update these recommendations as more information becomes available.
Update
As of 28 November 2012, seven confirmed and one probable case of novel coronavirus infection 
in humans are known to have occurred. These cases range in time from June through November 2012 and 
occurred in the areas around Jeddah and Riyadh of Saudi Arabia (which are about 850 km apart), and in 
Doha, Qatar. Infection with the virus appears to have been acquired locally in each of these situations. All 
of the patients were male but the significance of this is unknown. 

The clinical picture in all cases was an acute respiratory infection presenting with signs and
symptoms of pneumonia. Four patients developed acute renal failure; one of these died. The remaining
three patients had pneumonia that required intensive support, without renal failure, and recovered. Three
confirmed cases and the one probable case all belong to the same family and were living in the same
household.
The source of the virus is unknown, as is the mode of transmission. Available genetic sequence 
data indicate that the virus is most closely related to a coronavirus found in bats; however, this does not 
conclusively support bats as a reservoir for the virus. Early investigations do not support direct exposure 
to bats as a mode of transmission. 
The newly reported cases demonstrate that the virus has persisted over a period of at least 5 
months and is geographically distributed over a wider area than was evidenced by the first two cases. 
Given that the exact extent of the distribution is unknown, WHO is taking the precaution of 
recommending an expansion of surveillance to monitor for the appearance of the virus in other countries.

The following should be carefully investigated and tested for novel coronavirus:
1. Patients under investigation
A person with an acute respiratory infection, which may include history of fever or measured 
fever (≥ 38°C , 100.4°F) and cough
AND 
Suspicion of pulmonary parenchymal disease (e.g. pneumonia or Acute Respiratory Distress 
Syndrome (ARDS)), based on clinical or radiological evidence of consolidation. 
ANDResidence in or history of travel to the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries within 10 
days before onset of illness. 
AND
Not already explained by any other infection or aetiology
1
, including all clinically indicated tests
for community-acquired pneumonia according to local management guidelines. It is not necessary
to wait for all test results for other pathogens before testing for novel coronavirus.
2. Ill contacts
Individuals with acute respiratory illness of any degree of severity who, within 10 days before 
onset of illness, were in close physical contact
2
with a confirmed or probable case of novel
coronavirus infection, while the case was ill.
Any person who has had close contact with a probable or confirmed case while the probable or 
confirmed case was ill should be carefully monitored for the appearance of respiratory symptoms. 
If symptoms develop with the first 10 days after contact, the individual should be considered a 
“patient under investigation”, regardless of the severity of illness, and investigated accordingly.

3. Clusters
Any cluster
3
of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI)

4
, particularly clusters of patients
requiring intensive care, without regard to place of residence or a history of travel
AND
Not already explained by any other infection or aetiology, including all clinically indicated tests 
for community-acquired pneumonia according to local management guidelines.

4. Health care workers:
Health care workers who care for patients with severe acute respiratory infections, particularly 
patients requiring intensive care,   http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/InterimRevisedSurveillanceRecommendations_nCoVinfection_20121128.pdf

WHO Confirms Third Fatal Novel Beta Coronavirus Case

Recombinomics Commentary 15:30
November 29, 2012

The clinical picture in all cases was an acute respiratory infection presenting with signs and symptoms of pneumonia. Four patients developed acute renal failure; one of these died. The remaining three patients had pneumonia that required intensive support, without renal failure, and recovered. Three confirmed cases and the one probable case all belong to the same family and were living in the same household.

The above comments are from the WHO November 28 guidelines on surveillance testing for the novel betacoronavirus first reported in September.  The update increases the number of confirmed cases to seven and cites four cases with renal failure.  The first two cases had renal failure and media reports indicated the two fatal cases (70 year old father and his son) also had renal failure.  Therefore the 7th confirmed case would be the father (70M) and the WHO comments above should read that one of the cases survived (the 49M from Qatar), instead of stating that only one died.

The November 23 WHO update cited two deaths in the Riyadh cluster, which were in addition to the Jeddah case (60M) who died in June.

Renal failure in four of eight cases, as well as the death of 3 of the 4 cases with renal failure is remarkably similar to clinical presentation and outcomes for the most severe SARS CoV cases from 2003.  The intensive support for the other three confirmed cases also matches results for the SARS CoV outbreak, where almost 10% of lab confirmed cases died, and the deaths were concentrated in middle aged to older patients, which had ages similar to the four cases with renal failure. 

Although the WHO has not released the ages for the cases without renal failure, all appear to be middle aged adults.

Release of ages and disease onset dates for the seven confirmed and one probable case would be useful.  http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11291202/Betacoronavirus_WHO_3.html

Caucasus-bird flu killed more than 600 birds

Can return to the Kuban bird flu

At the edge of Rosselkhoznadzor believe that the mass death of birds in Temryuk district and Anapa could be due to bird flu. It is now known about the death of more than 600 birds.

 

 

The representative of the Ministry told RIA Novosti that the preliminary diagnosis of dead birds - bird flu, is now awaiting the final results.

According to the November 28, in the region killed more than 600 birds of various species.Among them - swans, pelicans, ducks and coots.

On Wednesday, the press service of the North Caucasus EkoVahty reported that the Black Sea coast of the coast and estuaries of the Taman Peninsula, and Anapa dotted with dead birds.

More of dead birds seen on the banks of Kiziltash, Bugaz estuaries, naked on the spit, and the area between the village and hamlets Veselovka Annunciation.

Just yesterday, the country's chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko said that the world fears the spread of bird flu. Only after the registration of the strain recorded 608 cases of dangerous virus H5N1, more than half of them - deadly. In Russia, the highlight of this strain has not happened. http://www.dg-yug.ru/a/2012/11/29/Na_Kuban_vozvrashhaetsja_pt

Esophageal Suspected Bird Flu, Poultry in Sanden Dozens of Sudden Death

Thursday, November 29, 2012 18:24 PM

BANTUL - Dozens of birds ducks in the District of Sanden and Jetis known died suddenly since last two months.Allegedly, the mass death of birds due to virus attack Avian Influenza (AI).

According to the Head of Animal Health Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Dispertahut) Bantul, Agus Riyadmadi, so far it only received reports from a number of farmers in the village of Srigading, Sanden, and Village Trimulyo, Jetis.

"Data while, there were about 50 ducks that died suddenly. Symptoms are almost the same, lame duck walk, giddy, and finally seizures. It is similar to the symptoms of H5N1 (bird flu). However, this is not the bird flu, "said Agus, Thursday (29/11).

Agus explained, the virus that causes the death of dozens of ducks this time more virulent than H5N1. Therefore, the H5N1 virus is not known to cause death in ducks. To ascertain the cause of death, Center for Veterinary Wates Yogyakarta has taken samples about two months ago.

It takes about two to three months for the Center for Veterinary publish the results of the study. Kasi Animal Health Services Dispertahut Bantul, Subeno added, duck deaths with symptoms of paralysis and seizures can also be due to environmental factors.  http://www.solopos.com/2012/11/29/diduga-terserang-flu-burung-puluhan-unggas-di-sanden-mati-mendadak-352306

Outbreak Specialists Track Down Recent Coronavirus

Health officials are trying to figure out if the virus is moving from person to person

By Helen Branswell

Maria Zambon was having déjà vu. Earlier this fall, she found out about a new coronavirus that had come seemingly from nowhere to kill a Saudi man in Jeddah in June and seriously sicken another.  The survivor had been flown from Qatar to a London hospital. His lungs were overwhelmed with infection, his kidneys failing. Virologists at Erasmus Medical Center, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, were already working on an isolate from the Saudi man to decode the virus's genetic sequence. They named the virus HCoV-EMC, short for human coronavirus and the institution's initials.

The situation reminded Zambon, director of reference microbiology for Britain's Health Protection Agency, of the SARS outbreak of 2003, which spread from China to as far as Toronto and killed 916 people. Fortunately, the recent coronavirus appears to be emerging more slowly than SARS did (also a coronavirus). To date, only six cases have been reported—four in Saudi Arabia and two in Qatar. Two of the infections have been fatal. The gnawing concern, however, is that the virus will start spreading from person to person, fanning out more broadly to infect people around the globe.

A recently discovered cluster of illnesses in Saudi Arabia has raised concerns that the virus may be able to move from person to person. Four men who lived in the same household in Riyadh became sick with similar symptoms within a short period of time. Two of the men tested positive for the virus. The two others—one of whom died—are currently classified as probable cases. Their infection status may remain ambiguous. 

With the source of the infection unknown and the incubation period unclear, authorities may never get a definitive answer about whether these family members were all infected from a common source, or whether one of them got sick and infected the others, says Anthony Mounts, the World Health Organization's technical expert for the outbreak.  "It sure raises your concern. But it's not definitive." If the virus spread from person to person in that Riyadh household, it has apparently since sputtered and died out.

Still, the discovery of additional cases, some in a cluster, has prompted WHO to cast a wider net in its search for other cases. The Geneva-based global health agency had initially warned countries to be on the lookout for cases of severe and unexplained respiratory illness in people who had visited or were residents of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Now it is convinced that whatever the source of the virus is, it is probably not unique to those countries. By getting health authorities around the world to look harder for possible cases, it hopes to answer another question that people like Mounts and Zambon have been asking themselves: Is this virus actually new, or has it just newly come into view? If it is the former, then worries about what the virus might do will remain high.  But if it has been infecting people for years but was only spotted because two severe cases brought it to light, then the virus may seem like less of a threat.

"There's always a question of 'Well, actually, has it been around forever and a day and we just missed it because we haven't tested?'" Zambon notes. It is commonly accepted that medical science has not identified all the bugs that make people sick. In fact, before the SARS outbreak, only two viruses in the coronavirus family were known to infect people. In the years after SARS became the third, the human coronaviruses NL63 and HKU1 were added to that list.

Finding the answer means testing more patients with similar symptoms to see if they too are infected with the EMC virus. Some countries—Britain among them—have been testing sick pilgrims returning from this year's Hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage that brings roughly three million Muslims to  Mecca every year. So far there have been no reports of additional cases among the returning Hajjis. And as time passes, concerns about the pilgrimage as a disease-amplification opportunity are starting to wane. "The government of Saudi Arabia does quite extensive surveillance during the Hajj and was particularly vigilant during this season. They have reassured us that nothing unusual happened," Mounts says. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=outbreak-specialists-track-down-recent-coronavirus

Russia may ban the import of breeding cattle from the EU

Yesterday it was reported that in the near future Rosselkhoznadzor can ban the importation of breeding cattle from the EU. According to agency spokesman Alexei Alexeyenko, the reason is that the EU does not provide all the information on some important issues, in particular on the epizootic situation regarding the two viruses - bluetongue and Schmallenberg. Previously, the EU asked the WTO to a number of complaints allegedly protect,,
http://www.newizv.ru/economics/2012-11-29/173765-rossija-mozhet-zapretit-vvoz-plemennogo-skota-iz-es.html

Testing the WHO may raise to 3 the number of deaths from new coronavirus

In total, there have been reported four new cases, three in Saudi Arabia and one in Qatar

November 28, 2012 | 16h 28

GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the lab results to confirm a new death in Saudi Arabia caused by coronavirus detected in last September, which would bring to three the number of infected dead.

"We are waiting to be confirmed two new cases, one of which resulted in fatal. Though at first the person who recovered have tested negative for coronavirus, the result is not reliable and we are waiting for a second proof," said on Wednesday Efe the WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl.

The two people supposedly infected are relatives of two other residents of Saudi Arabia, one of them deceased, whose infections were laboratory confirmed and announced last week by the UN health agency.

In total, the WHO said on Friday four new cases, three in Saudi Arabia and one in Qatar, bringing to six the number of infected yet by the new coronavirus, which manifests itself in patients as a respiratory syndrome and renal .

The first case of this new type of coronavirus was detected and confirmed by the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands earlier this year in a man of 60 years in Saudi Arabia, who died after being hospitalized.

The second case was that of a Qatari who before becoming ill traveled to Saudi Arabia and who recovered in a British hospital.

In both cases the patients suffered renal failure, something that surprised doctors because not normally relates to a pulmonary syndrome, reason began to investigate.

Fadela Chaib, WHO spokeswoman, explained that the two deaths reported so far "are not related."The new virus was detected in early September and was classified as a coronavirus, a family to which also belong to seasonal influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome known as SARS.

A month later, the WHO said that "there was no evidence of virus transmission from human to human."

This organization, along with the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, continues working to better understand the coronavirus and its source, and urged other countries to keep alert.

Until new information available about the disease, the WHO asked who consider that the virus may be present in other countries in which the two different cases were detected.

In this regard, WHO urged health authorities to conduct tests in patients presenting with pneumonia symptoms not common even when not have traveled or have not been in contact with Qataris and Saudis.

He also proposed to investigate any strain of SARS or the presence of any of these syndromes in healthcare professionals "appear regardless of where," and maintained its decision not to recommend no restrictions on travel.  http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/vidae,testes-da-oms-podem-elevar-para-3-o-n-de-mortes-por-novo-coronavirus,966454,0.htm

Beware Brunei Coronavirus

Thursday, November 29, 2012 | 00:06 pm

 Brunei Darussalam -Brunei Health Ministry advised its citizens to visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar to promptly went to the nearest hospital or health center. That was done to determine whether there is a corona virus infecting them.The call was made after the incident was reported coronavirus infecting six people and killed two people in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, recently,

Nevertheless, the World Health Organization, have issued a ban on travel to both countries affected coronavirus.  ???

Diseases caused by coronavirus can cause symptoms such as runny nose, high fever (38 degrees Celsius or greater), cough and wheezing, according to rilisWHO yesterday.

People are also asked to be careful and check their health for the sake of mencegahan infection by wearing a mask or cover your mouth and nose using a tissue when sneezing or coughing.

Washing hands with water and soap are also advised WHO after defecation, before eating or serve snacks and avoid rubbing the eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid contact with people who are generally well advised colds.

Ministry of Health Brunei continuously monitor the situation, the newspaper The Brunei TimesWednesday (28/11). In collaboration with other agencies, the Ministry of Health Brunei will increase alertness according to the latest WHO update guidelines.

On 21 November the Ministry of Health Qatar and Saudi Arabia found three cases of coronavirus again, the one found in Qatar and two in Saudi Arabia. Indonesian pilgrims who had come home Saudi Arabia would have to be aware of this virus.  http://web.inilah.com/read/detail/1931988/brunei-waspadai-coronavirus

SARS-Like Virus Resurfaces And Infects A Family In Saudi Arabia

by MICHAELEEN DOUCLEFF

November 28, 201212:14 PM

Enlarge image

An artistic model of a coronavirus infecting a cell. The family of viruses can cause mild infections, like the common cold, and severe pneumonia-like infections, such as SARS.

Peter Kohama/MCT/Landov

After a two-month hiatus, the mysterious coronavirus that killed one man and hospitalized another is back on the scene. This time it has infected members of the same family.

The new cases raise the known total to six, including two deaths.

Scientist are trying to figure out if the involvement of a family says something new about the virus.

"There is a possibility that it represents person-to-person transmission, but it's also possible that the family members were exposed to a common animal source of the virus, too," Dr. Larry Anderson, an infectious disease specialist at Emory University, tells Shots. "What we know for sure is that there's an ongoing reservoir or source of the virus that humans are still, periodically encountering."

The new coronavirus first appeared in June, when a Saudi Arabian man died from severe respiratory problems and eventually kidney failure. A few months later a Qatari man came down with similar symptoms but recovered after several months in intensive care.

Scientists quickly sequenced the virus and realized it had never been seen before. It's most closely related to a bat coronavirus and a first cousin with the SARS virus, which infected nearly 8,000 people in 2003.

Even if the new coronavirus has spread between family members, Anderson says, "it doesn't mean the virus poses a global risk similar to SARS." Other viruses, he says, such as H5N1 bird flu and Nipah virus, have transmitted between people for years, but their infectiousness is so low that outbreaks have been rare and small.

The family that caught the coronavirus lives together in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh, Dr. Ziad Memish from the Saudi Ministry of Health told Shots in an email. "They have not traveled abroad or within the country prior to the start of illness," he wrote.

Four family members have become ill, but only two have tested positive for the virus so far. One of them died, and the other recovered. "We expect the test results for the remaining family members any time now," Memish wrote.

He also said that doctors in Saudi Arabia are now screening for the virus in every patient who is admitted to a hospital with severe pneumonia. "I think that's why we are picking up new cases," he wrote. "The flow of samples is continuous, and we test all samples for the novel corona in our regional reference lab in Jeddah."

So far, all six cases have their origins in Saudi Arabia or Qatar. But the World Health Organization says it's time to widen the net and start looking for the virus elsewhere. WHO now recommends countries around the world start testing for the coronavirus when patients have unexplained pneumonias.

"It's impossible to know at this point because of the limited amount of testing just how widespread this problem is," a WHO told The Canadian Press. "But it just seems inappropriate to continue to focus on two countries in the region when there's really not much that would lead you to suppose that those were the only two countries affected."  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/11/26/165924257/sars-like-virus-resurfaces-and-infects-a-family-in-saudi-arabia?

Canada- Travel Health Notice- Coronavirus

A novel (new) coronavirus has been identified in a small number of cases of persons who went to or came from Saudi Arabia or Qatar. Coronaviruses are the cause of the common cold but can also be the cause of more severe illnesses including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). At this time, there is still more to learn about this new virus. What is known is that this virus is different from any other that has been found to date in humans and animals. Symptoms may include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing.

The World Health Organization continues to work with relevant ministries of health and other international partners to support investigations to gain a better understanding of the disease and its risks... 

 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/thn-csv/n-coronavirus-eng.php

In Brief: SARS-like virus in the Middle East

DUBAI, 28 November 2012 (IRIN) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert after six cases of a virus resembling the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) were discovered in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. 

Two of the six cases confirmed by laboratories have been fatal, leading to fears of an outbreak similar to the original SARS virus in 2002-03, which killed around 10 percent of the 8,000 humans infected. 

“From our understanding of the virus so far, and given the enhanced surveillance that is in place, we expect to see more cases reported and confirmed,” WHO spokesman, Glen Thomas, told IRIN. “We also expect to see more cases from countries other than the two that have confirmed cases so far.” WHO scientists are trying to find out the cause of the infections, and ascertain whether the virus is moving from human to human. 

A study published by scientists from the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam last week found similarities between the new SARS-like virus and a virus found in bats in Saudi Arabia.  http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96916/In-Brief-SARS-like-virus-in-the-Middle-East

ECDC In Denial of Novel Beta Coronavirus Human Transmission

Recombinomics Commentary 22:30
November 27, 2012

ECDC updated risk assessment concludes that in the absence of evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission outside of household settings, the current facts still point towards a hypothesis of a zoonotic or environmental source with occasional transmission to exposed humans.

The above comments from the abstract of the European Center for Disease Control risk assessment for the novel betacornavirus November 26 report is yet another example of a focus on an animal origin of a disease transmitting in humans.  It contains that all too familial of “no evidence of” for a disease that is new, novel, and has had extremely limited testing.

WHO has recommended more frequent and widespread testing due in part to a familial cluster that included two confirmed and two probable cases.  Two of the family members died after renal failure and the two surviving members had similar symptoms seen in other confirmed cases.  The ECDC did imply that some additional testing may be warranted, but noted that the number of undiagnosed pneumonia cases in the European Union was large, and widespread testing would be burdensome.

The discussion of the cluster was limited.  The probable case who tested negative was not mentioned, which was also true of the renal failure in the father (70M) and the multi-organ failure in his son.  Renal failure was also reported for the first two confirmed cases from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  Both of the earlier confirmed cases had traveled to Mecca prior to disease onset.

The ECDC report implied that the recent cases were due to November infections, while media reports indicated all were in October or earlier.  The ECDC report made no mention of the role of the Hajj in the spread of the virus (the first two confirmed cases travelled to Mecca prior to symptoms in Jeddah and Doha), and instead maintained its hypothesis of a zoonotic infection, which has no scientific basis.  Full sequences from the first two cases are public, and the novel betacornavirus has not been reported in any animal host, in spite of aggressive testing after the SARS CoV outbreak in 2003.

The ECDC report is yet another example for an agency that is in state of denial with regard to human transmission of a novel human pathogen.

Media Link  http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11271201/Betacoronavirus_ECDC_Denial.html

AFCD staff diagnosed psittacosis and another eight people suspected infection

　　 2012-11-28 

 Nov. 28 - The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's Animal Management Centre in Sheung Shui outbreak of psittacosis, five employees earlier onset, three of them confirmed, and another eight employees of upper respiratory tract symptoms. 

Animal Management Centre in Sheung Shui has been temporarily closed, and strengthen the cleaning and disinfection. Ko Wing-man, the Food and Health Bureau, stressed psittaci not human-to-human transmission, the current situation is under control; also refers to some experts, human-to-human transmission is very low.

 Management Center last month to receive sixteen spots Amazon parrots, including three deaths, authorities to be humanely destroyed another ten. Five center staff subsequently appear different respiratory symptoms, including cough, chills, sore throat, and there are still four people hospitalized. CHP said, has confirmed that three patients positive for Chlamydia psittaci.

　　In addition, the Health Protection center contact 59 the AFCD staff working in the Animal Management Centre in Sheung Shui, that among eight people present symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. CHP's arrangements for the eight people with the Hospital Authority to provide medical evaluation and laboratory investigation to rule out that they are infected with psittacosis.

　　The Centre for Health Protection and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is investigating whether the outbreak of psittacosis, the HKU infection and the Director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases, Ho Pak-leung said, other birds such as pigeons, sparrows, ducks psittaci bacterial infection.

http://news.takungpao.com.hk/hkol/topnews/2012-11/1292260.html

Hong Kong Psittacosis outbreak

Tuesday, 27 November, 2012
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 26) conducting a joint investigation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) into a suspected outbreak of respiratory disease involving five AFCD staff working in the New Territories North Animal Management Centre (NTNAMC) in Sheung Shui. They were all males aged between 27 and 64 with onset of symptoms from November 6 to November 24. The first case affected a 64-year-old man who presented with upper respiratory symptoms since November 6. He was admitted to a hospital in Australia since November 12. 

The second case is a 55-year-old man. He developed chills, cough and sore throat since November 8 and fever, shortness of breath, headache and myalgia since November 19. He was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) on November 22. His chest X-ray showed bilateral upper zone patchiness and the clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. He is now receiving care in the Intensive Care Unit of QMH in stable condition.

Respiratory and urine specimens taken from the 55-year-old patient at QMH tested by the hospital yielded negative results for influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Legionnaires' Disease, while test results for psittacosis and leptospirosis are pending. CHP's Public Health Laboratory Centre performed tests on the patient's respiratory specimens and it was negative for Novel Coronavirus associated with Severe Respiratory Disease.

 The third case affected a 62-year-old man who developed bilateral red eyes on November 12, and was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital on November 17 because of cough with blood-stained sputum, malaise, chills, rigors and sore throat. His condition was stable. The diagnosis was pneumonia. Preliminary laboratory testing for influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, RSV and adenovirus was negative. 

The fourth case is a 27-year-old man. He developed fever, headache and malaise on November 14 and was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital on November 18. The diagnosis was pneumonia.
 He recovered after treatment and was discharged home on November 22 and his condition was stable.
 The fifth case affected a 62-year old man who presented with cough, chills and rigor since November 24 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for further management on November 26. His condition is stable. The home contacts of the patients are asymptomatic.

CHP staff conducted a site visit to NTNAMC today and provided health advice to the staff. According to the information provided by AFCD, there is a batch of 16 seized parrots being kept in NTNAMC since October 20. 
Subsequently, three died and 10 were euthanised as precautionary measures. The health condition of the three surviving birds is being closely monitored. The possibility of psittacosis outbreak among these staff is being actively investigated. The investigation is underway. 

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=EH-20121127-37316-CHN

Lighting Up Chickens to Prevent Bird Flu Pandemics

Posted: 11/27/2012 3:14 pm

Flu season is just around the corner. As winter approaches, the cold forces us into the warmth of our homes, where interactions with our fellow humans are magnified by increased close contact.

These conditions are ideal for the spread of the influenza virus, which is mainly spread by  sneezes. A tear-inducing, room-resonating sneeze is a viral ejection of massive proportions. It starts with a tickling feeling in the nose, grows with each vain attempt at repression of the inevitable, and ends with the violent expulsion of as many as 40,000 projectiles traveling up to 200 miles an hour. Each droplet expelled into the room can contain as many as 100 million flu viruses. The virus-laden water bombs are also released in much less dramatic fashion when someone with the flu talks or coughs.

 After expulsion from the infected body, the larger droplets fall to ground, while the smaller ones can remain airborne for days. Most flu viruses are spread when these droplets directly enter someone's mouth or nose. It is a common misconception that flu infections come from touching doorknobs, handrails, etc. -- infection from droplets that have landed on a surface is fairly rare.

During the summer, we spend more time outdoors, where we are less likely to breathe in virus-laden droplets. Consequently, outbreaks of the flu are generally limited to the winter season. They peak in about three weeks and take another three to dissipate. In the period between 1976 and 2006, annual flu-associated deaths in the United States ranged from a low of 3,000 to a high of 50,000 people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older people, young children, pregnant woman and people with asthma are particularly susceptible to flu viruses and are at greater risk for serious complications. The annual direct medical costs attributable to the flu in the U.S. average $10.4 billion annually, and the projected lost earnings due to illness and loss of life amount to $16.3 billion.

At least four times in recorded history, a flu outbreak has swept across the world, infecting a significant portion of its population. Such outbreaks are known as pandemics. Th.. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-zimmer/lighting-up-chickens_b_2199602.html

For the next two weeks Qatar hosts COP18 the UN Climate Change conference

Qatar is nearly 20,000 people fuller this week as the country hosts its largest conference ever. The 18th annual United Nations Convention on Climate Change kicks off today at the Qatar National Convention Center and runs through Dec. 7.

http://dohanews.co/tagged/cop18

I wonder how that will be affected by the recent reports of the new caronavirus in that area..Masks anyone? No worries..we will get told in a month or so..after everyone flies home.

SCH taking steps to check spread of coronavirus

The Supreme Council of Health has vowed to keep open the communication and co-ordination channels between the council and the World Health Organisation for updates 
and follow up about the deadly coronavirus.
This follows the discovery and
confi rmation by laboratory results, on November 21, of a second case of coronavirus infection in a Qatari.
The SCH Health Protection and Communicable Disease manager Dr Mohamed al-Hajri said that the council has held a meeting on the second case of the virus infection in Qatar with all stakeholders at the council
and at the Hamad Medical Corporation.
He said all related issues had been tackled and that authorities concerned would conduct clinical and laboratory surveillance, as well as field visits and epidemiological investigation 
for all probable healthcare associated transmission cases in both government and private health sectors, in addition to communicating with relevant entities to contribute to the process.

Dr al-Hajri ai  rmed that SCH was committed to following up all aspects related to the disease
besides conducting investigation and to minimise the spread of the virus in collaboration with
all world-class organisations and experts.
He said that the SCH and HMC have intensified surveillance for such cases and have examined the suspected samples and sent them to international specialised centres adding that 
the SCH has recently invited a delegation of experts to discuss and provide assistance in  investigation procedures'
The official indicated that direct communication with both governmental and private
health sectors has been established to stress on the necessity of instant reporting of any
probable case, along with following the special protocol in such cases. Dr al-Hajri mentioned that HMC was working on beginning to conduct the tests for the
Coronavirus as soon as possible apart from training its laboratory staff  on how to carry out
such tests.
Presently, Qatar sends samples for coronavirus to a specialused laboratory in the U.K. 

Update on psittacosis outbreak in Sheung Shui

27 November 2012

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 27) provided an update on its joint investigation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) into an outbreak of psittacosis respiratory disease involving five AFCD male staff working in the New Territories North Animal Management Centre (NTNAMC) in Sheung Shui.      A CHP spokesman said that the respiratory specimens from three patients (a 55-year-old patient at Queen Mary Hospital, a 62-year-old patient in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and a 27-year-old patient who has been discharged from Yan Chai Hospital) tested positive for Chlamydophila psittaci by polymerase chain reaction as confirmed by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Centre, suggesting that they were suffering from psittacosis infection.       So far, a total of five AFCD staff working in the NTNAMC have developed respiratory symptoms (mostly pneumonia) requiring admission to hospitals. One has recovered and the other four are currently in hospitals in Hong Kong (three) and Australia (one).      The CHP has successfully contacted 59 AFCD staff working in the NTNAMC and eight of them are found to currently have upper respiratory symptoms. Arrangements will be made with the Hospital Authority for these eight persons to undergo medical assessment and laboratory investigation to rule out psittacosis.

The joint investigation is under way. The total number of laboratory confirmed cases so far in this outbreak is three.      The spokesman said that psittacosis is a disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci. It is usually transmitted to humans by inhaling the agent from the dried droppings and secretions of infected birds. Pet birds such as parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, macaws and poultry (turkeys and ducks) are most frequently involved. Person-to-person transmissions are rare.      Common symptoms include fever, headache, rash, muscle pain, chills and dry cough. Pneumonia may occur in serious cases. Encephalitis, myocarditis and thrombophlebitis are occasional complications. The incubation period ranges from one to four weeks. Psittacosis can be effectively treated with antibiotics.      To prevent psittacosis, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures: * Wear gloves and face masks when handling the droppings and secretions of birds; * Wash both hands thoroughly after handling birds; * Avoid close contacts with birds; * Disinfect bird cages and surfaces contaminated by bird droppings and secretions; and * Seek medical treatment if symptoms develop. Ends/Tuesday, November 27, 2012 http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/27098.html

Bird Flu Plague in Tegal

27 November 2012 | 17:04 pm

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TEGAL, suaramerdeka.com - The bird flu virus lately endemic in some areas of Tegal. As a result, thousands of ducks and chickens owned by communities died suddenly. These events, among other things Pesurungan Lor Village and Village Kalinyamat Kulon, District Margadana.
One duck farmers in the village Pesurungan Lor, Darkoni (31), Tuesday (27/11) said that the incident is estimated to have taken place since the last month. "Initially ducks would not eat then limp and dead. Consequently egg production declined and farmers suffered considerable losses," he said.
It is also delivered another breeder, Aris (30). According to him, this time the breeder and social unrest. Various attempts were made to address the farmers virus attacks. Namely, using drugs and separating ducks that have been infected.
However, the efforts have not been successful because there are a lot of dead ducks. "For a dead duck then there were burned and dumped," he said.
Other breeder, Bambang (28) added, in addition to attacking ducks, the virus also attacked chickens owned by residents. Currently, about 400 of his ducks had contracted about one-third. To avoid greater losses most farmers choose to sell ducks and some will move to diborokan ducks in the rice fields.
"We hope the relevant agencies have addressed soon, the checks and provide medical aid to prevention. If left farmers threatened with bankruptcy," he said.
While Kasi Kalinyamat Kulon Urban Governance, Ari Wibowo said the accident occurred in the region. Hundreds of chickens belonging to the resident died suddenly due to bird flu virus. "We are also demanding immediate solution best effort," he said.
Acting Department of the Marine and Agriculture, Ir hariyana when confirmed the issue saying that it was taking samples and do the testing in the laboratory in Yogyakarta. But the result was positive bird flu virus. Therefore, efforts are now made to prevention.    http://www.suaramerdeka.com/v1/index.php/read/news/2012/11/27/136648/Flu-Burung-Mewabah-di-Kota-Tegal