Mortality Rate From Coronavirus Jumps To 60 Percent, Four More Deaths Confirmed

May 31, 2013

Five additional cases of coronavirus, initially named nCoV, has been confirmed in Saudi Arabia, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. The Ministry reported the new cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. Three of the patients have died, as well as a fourth patient — an 81-year-old woman — who was earlier reported to be infected with the virus.

All five new patients were from the eastern region of the country, but not from Al-Ahsa, where an April 2013 outbreak occurred in a healthcare facility. The Saudi government is now investigating the likely source of infection in both the healthcare and community settings, according to the WHO.
The Ministry said all five patients had underlying medical conditions which resulted in multiple hospitalizations.
The first patient, a 56-year-old man, became ill on May 12 and died on May 20. The second patient is an 85-year-old woman who became ill on May 17 and is currently listed in critical condition. The third patient was a 76-year-old woman who became ill on May 17 and was released from the hospital on May 27. The fourth patient was a 77-year-old man who became ill on May 19 and died on May 26. The fifth patient, a 73-year-old man, became ill on May 18 and died on May 26.
The new cases now bring the total number of infected persons to 50, according to the NY Daily News. The three latest deaths also bring the coronavirus-related death count to 30, increasing the mortality rate to 60 percent.
In a report released on May 28, the WHO issued recommendations for “enhanced surveillance and precautions for the testing and management of suspected cases.” It said it would also continue to work with international partners for as long as needed.
The novel coronavirus was redubbed on May 23 following a proposal by the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). It recommended the virus be called the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
The WHO said it generally prefers that viruses are not named after regions or places from where they are initially detected in order to minimize unnecessary geographical discrimination that may be based on coincidental detection rather than a true area for emergence of the virus. The WHO said no group was convened to discuss the naming of the virus, but noted that the proposed name does represent a consensus that is acceptable to the organization, since it was “built on consultation with a large group of scientists.”
Although the WHO continues to work closely with countries and international partners, it currently is not advising special screenings pertaining to the virus and it has offered no recommendations on travel or trade restrictions. It said it will continue to closely monitor the situation.

But as experts continue to look into cases and deaths pertaining to MERS-CoV, it becomes clear that some level of precaution is needed to ensure the virus is contained. Health experts are calling on healthcare facilities to isolate patients who show signs and symptoms of MERS-CoV for at least 12 days to avoid spreading it to other patients and/or relatives.

French health officials recently reported the first death in their country of a man who became ill last month after visiting the Middle East; he spread the infection to a hospital patient who shared a room with him. That second man remains in serious condition, according to the French Health Ministry.
Experts are currently unsure how the first cases of the virus infected humans, but believe it came from animals such as bats, camels or goats. Since taking a stronghold, the virus has shown some level of transmissibility between humans, but health officials are stopping short of saying it is highly contagious until more information is on the table.
In a speech on Monday, WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, said the MERS-CoV is currently the greatest concern for her organization, calling the ongoing crisis a “threat to the entire world.”
Maria Cheng of The Associated Press reported yesterday that French doctors have estimated the incubation period for the disease is between nine and 12 days, longer than an original estimate of between seven and 10 days, reported by other officials. This new estimation is why the experts are calling for longer quarantines, especially since those with underlying medical conditions are very susceptible from exposure to infected persons.
In a paper published in The Lancet, the French experts wrote that if the virus further evolves, it could become significantly more dangerous. Further mutations could mean the virus becomes “increasingly transmissible.”  http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112861599/coronavirus-deaths-four-mortality-60-percent-053113/

Fauci: New virus not yet a 'threat to the world'

video..

 

May 31, 2013 1:07 PM

Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says the MERS virus isn't yet a 'threat to the world' as the World Health Organization warned. He says it could be if MERS evolves to easily spread among people.  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Fauci+virus+threat+world/8461575/story.html

Beijing actively monitoring found a second case of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza

 28 May 2013 21:30:26May 28, 2013 morning, the Beijing Center for Disease Control reported that in Beijing large-scale conventional ILI pathogen monitoring, from the Peking University People's Hospital for treatment of influenza-like illness found in one case of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza. At 16:00 on May 28th, Beijing clinical expert confirmed that the case.
Children Xu, male, 6 years old, Junan County, Linyi City, Shandong Province, household, now living in the Haidian District. May 21 children with fever and sore throat, headache, Peking University People's Hospital for treatment, family history of exposure to poultry denied, visiting doctors examination showed bilateral tonsil enlargement and purulent secretions III degree, given anti-inflammatory, symptomatic other treatment; May 22 to 24, patients in the hospital receiving daily infusion therapy; May 23 afternoon, the body temperature returned to normal, the symptoms disappeared; May 24 afternoon back to nursery reopened. Children in the treatment period, the Peking University People's Hospital, according to "national influenza surveillance program" collected specimens were sent to CDC centralized testing. According to urban levels of testing and retesting results, May 28 children attending human H7N9 avian influenza infection after being sent to the Beijing Ditan Hospital for further observation and treatment. Children currently in good health, have normal body temperature for 5 days. The case is the second in Beijing reported cases of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza confirmed cases.
In accordance with the National Health and Family Planning Commission issued the "human infection with H7N9 avian influenza prevention and control program (2nd Edition)" provides an initial verification of their close contact with 50 people, all the staff have all been implemented medical observation measures currently no abnormality symptoms...

http://news.xinhuanet.com/2013-05/28/c_115943529.htm

Drug resistance develops easily with new H7N9 bird flu, study warns

By Helen Branswell, The Canadian PressMay 28, 2013 8:39 AM

TORONTO - A new study warns that resistance to the main flu drug Tamiflu seems to develop easily in infections with the new H7N9 bird flu.
The authors say early treatment with Tamiflu or other drugs in that class is still the best approach for treating these cases when they arise.
But they say the apparent ease with which resistance emerges is concerning and needs to be closely watched.
The article, published in the journal The Lancet, shows resistance arose in two of 14 patients studied in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre.
H7N9 is a new bird flu virus that exploded onto the world's radar at the beginning of April when China began reporting a rapidly rising number of cases.
The outbreak appears to have subsided recently, with no new cases reported for the past couple of weeks.
To date, 131 cases have been reported and 37 of these patients have died. All the infections have been contracted in China. One case was reported in Taiwan, but that involved a man who had returned from working in China and it is believed he was infected there.
The neuraminidase inhibitor class of drugs — the class to which Tamiflu belongs — are the only flu drugs believed to be effective against this virus.
“The apparent ease with which antiviral resistance emerges in H7N9 viruses is concerning; it needs to be closely monitored and considered in future pandemic response plans," the authors, from China and Hong Kong, said in the article.  http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Study+warns+drug+resistance+develops+easily+with+H7N9+bird/8444049/story.html

French coronapatient dies

HEALTH - It is a man of 65, the first patient detected ...
One of the two patients died coronavirus in France, announced on Tuesday the Ministry of Health told AFP. Contacted by 20 Minutes, the Directorate General of Health (DGS) said that the victim was the first patient detected - a man of 65 who traveled to Dubai. The second patient, aged forty years, is a man who shared the room the first from 27 to 29 April. According to medical sources, the state "remains stable but still very serious."

The Minister of Health Marisol Tourain, said on Tuesday that there is "no new situation in terms of the epidemic." In a statement, the University Hospital of Lille "deplores the death [...] the first patient coronavirus, hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the University Hospital Centre of Lille since May 9, 2013, following a multi-organ failure" . He was placed under extracorporeal support, "to take over his pulmonary function," the statement said.
Toubles digestive
Contaminated man in France was presented April 23 at the hospital Valenciennes (North), where he was followed for a chronic disease, and then had digestive problems, which explains why it has not been isolated . Contamination by the new coronavirus was confirmed on May 7
Both patients were hospitalized at the University Hospital of Lille.
http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/1163389-20130528-deux-patients-atteints-coronavirus-france-decede

Alabama Mystery Sickness Solved??.. Hospitals Still Taking Precautions

Video.
..The Alabama Health Officer said Thursday there appears to be no link between several recent cases of illness that left two people dead. Five others were hospitalized with flu-type symptoms. He said tests show the illnesses were combination of influenza A, rhinovirus, the virus associated with the common cold, and bacterial pneumonia. http://dothanfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=274362



Video

By: Jamiese Price

Updated: May 23, 2013

The Alabama Health Officer said Thursday there appears to be no link between several recent cases of illness that left two people dead. While we now know the cases are not related, it hasn't stopped people from showing up to Southeast Alabama Medical Center.

Emergency Room Physician Jason Deleon said, "People who are experiencing shortness of breath, running a fever ,and coughing are treated as they would a flu patient." Deleon said its one thing that separates this illness from the common cold. "Typically patients with a common cold don't actually experience shortness of breath and that's what differentiates this from common cold symptom that you would potentially have during this time of year."

Doctors are still being asked to send lab work back to the state. They're also running chest X-Rays looking for anything on the patients lungs. They've even been asked to run one specific flu test.

"We're asked to administer a flu PSR is a nasal swab that gets sent off to a lab and gets typed for a specific kind of virus," explained Deleon.

He said the only way to stop the spread of the virus is by practicing a few safety measures. "Right now the CDC and the State Department of Health recommends standard practice which is what we typically do during flu season. We also recommend hand-washing and Purell are good options. We also that people make sure they cover their mouths when they're coughing."  http://dothanfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=274372

CDC Travel update Novel (New) Coronavirus in the Arabian Peninsula

Novel (New) Coronavirus in the Arabian Peninsula

Updated: May 24, 2013

What Is the Current Situation?

Cases of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus have been identified in multiple countries. For more information, see CDC’s novel coronavirus update.
CDC does not recommend that anyone change their travel plans because of these cases of the novel coronavirus. CDC recommends that US travelers to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula* monitor their health and see a doctor right away if they develop fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath. They should tell the doctor about their recent travel.  more..
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/coronavirus-saudi-arabia-qatar

22. May 2013, 11:40:22 SGT

North Korea's Bird Flu Outbreak Alert

North Korea destroyed hundreds of thousands of birds in an effort to prevent the spread of bird flu virus variant that was found on a farm in Pyongyang, state media said.

The country's food supply is now in a vulnerable condition.

EPA

Chicken slaughterhouse in place. North Korea in order to protect from confined poultry outbreaks of avian influenza.

North Korea's state news agency reported this week, the researchers found a flock of ducks in Duck Ranch tudan infected with the H5N1 virus from migratory birds. Approximately 164 thousand ducks have been turned off since the first case of infection was found in the last month, according to government reports to the World Organization for Animal Health.

H5N1 is a variant of bird flu virus which has infected a number of species of birds in Asia, Europe and Africa since it was first discovered in Southeast Asia in 2003.

The outbreak appears when millions of people in North Korea could potentially experiencing food shortages. The UN agency for food and agriculture, FAO, said food supplies are projected to crash this year, although last year's wheat harvest was stable, after imports and food aid in 2013 has decreased.

Thousands of supervisory teams such outbreaks have spread throughout the country in order to "keep an eye on the movement of poultry and wild birds," the state-run news agency reported. However, experts say North Korea does not have adequate equipment to combat outbreaks associated with animals if it does not receive foreign aid.

Kwon Tae-jin, director of the Korea Rural Economic Institute in Seoul said poultry farm in North Korea in general can not operate fully and are not able to provide antibiotics.

Pyongyang is now confined to separate poultry with wild birds and their droppings. If this happens, it is likely that birds will be infected.

In the past, North Korea ever making claims regarding the discovery of bird flu vaccines, including against H5N1, without detailing the process. Two weeks ago, North Korea said it had found the H7N9 vaccine, another deadly virus variants that sparked fears in China.  http://indo.wsj.com/posts/2013/05/22/korea-utara-siaga-wabah-flu-burung/

North Korea pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 type)

The 20th North pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 type), making sure that happens, "to prevent the spread of bird flu, is taking measures," he said.

Day North Korea, "Central Veterinary Institute Academy of Agricultural Science, Veterinary Protection Station and associated units, including the test results in the last 7 days progress in Pyongyang put two ducks brought from the factory with the touch of migratory ducks and highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N1 was found to have occurred "and made ​​myself KCNA reported.

Korea Central News Agency, "The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Veterinary Organization and other related international organizations in relation to the disease situation and was informed materials" and "plant them EVER SINCE Pesaro 16 thousand ducks and strict isolation and quarantine and disinfection measures taken, "he said. After "more than 1360 nationwide number of persons coming within the dynamics of those watchtowers were placed poultry and wild birds are closely monitored by the state," he said.


North Korea also "airfields and seaports, border stations in areas affected by avian influenza in persons, especially those who came to check for gum disease and poultry, raw materials, along with strengthening quarantine of poultry ryudong mountain was to limit the time being," said "chickens, ducks, pigeons, and to cultivate thoroughly shut, "he said. http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201305202216511&code=910402

Quang Ngai second outbreak of H5N1 avian flu outbreak

(VOV) - Two flocks over 3,400 children were not vaccinated bird flu vaccine during 1/2013.

Morning of 24/5, Veterinary force Tu Nghia district, Quang Ngai province destroyed 900 ducks 3-month-old son of Mrs. Dinh Thi Go, in rural northern Anhui 2, Nghia Ky, Tu Nghia district after results tested positive for influenza A H5N1 virus.

Ms. Di said, to see sick and dying ducks continuously from 20/5, her family reported the local government to take measures to check processing.

Earlier, an outbreak of bird flu has appeared in his household Phan Van Hong, Hoi An village in North 1, Nghia Ky, Tu Nghia district. 2,500 ducks, more than 2 months old his Red has been destroyed, lost $ 70 million.

Mr. Phan Van Hong said, as prepared for sale should not dare vaccination, although local authorities have reported vaccination time ago.

Immediately after an epidemic occurs, Tu Nghia District Veterinary Station in collaboration with local governments implement outbreak control; Organization for mandatory destruction of outbreak, disinfection spray in the environment poultry farms around services. However, the current situation in Denmark is very large duck, while many farmers still do not abide by the vaccination.

"The time in April veterinary station conducting H5N1 vaccination. However, given time, there are no executive protection, not injected, while the duck flock is re-Forum, co-run, "said Huynh De, Veterinary staff Tu Nghia District, Quang Ngai Province said . /.  http://vov.vn/Xa-hoi/Quang-Ngai-bung-phat-2-o-dich-cum-gia-cam-H5N1/263331.vov

Egypt took a lotta samples

Dr Abdel Atty Abdel-Alim director of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Health said the Ministry of Health's preparations to face the corona virus continues. He said Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine for "Echo of the country" that the ministry is these procedures to meet bird Anfellonza virus , he said, adding that the ministry is four major measures to counter the corona virus and bird flu. He explained that he is currently the corona virus surveillance in 450 hospitals, in addition to 8 special centers respiratory disease , stressing that so far does not have any case of the disease in Egypt. He pointed out that the management ...

Health: monitor corona virus in 450 hospital .. and we took samples from 2012 patients in hospitals and 284 of arrivals from abroad  http://www.el-balad.com/498973

Kuwait:Yes, we have no corona

..New Undersecretary of Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, Dr. Khalid Al-Sahlawi emphasis on free Kuwait from the virus, "Corona," adding that Kuwait has not recorded any cases of "Coruna", assured citizens and residents that the health situation in the face of the virus reassuring, and to take the Ministry of Health of all actions and measures necessary. He announced Sahlawi, in a press statement that the ministry has formed a technical committee to combat the virus under his leadership will begin its first meeting next Sunday to determine the policies and mechanisms necessary to counter the virus and co-ordination of procedures for the technical to be followed by health regions, departments and agencies various technical specific diagnosis and treatment..

http://www.el-balad.com/499632

Saudi Arabia says corona is not in schools

..none they want to talk about anyway.

Saudi Arabia confirms that the infiltration of the virus, "Corona" to schools final
ASHA22-5-2013 | 14:34The Saudi government confirmed do not infiltrate virus (Corona) to schools in the Ahsa region or the eastern region where the virus was discovered and announced the 31 people injured so far, 16 people have died, the rest have been placed under a private health care.
The Board of Education in the Eastern Province Saudi Arabia, in a statement published on Wednesday, he did not register cases in schools praise of God, and the Ministry of Health in constant contact with consulting firms, and has been revised procedures in force in the kingdom, which has been described as very appropriate, noting that Experts recommend not to impose restrictions on schools...

http://gate.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/13/71/349896/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A4%D9%83%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D9%86%D9%87.aspx

WHO voices deep concern over spread of SARS-like virus

The World Health Organization voiced deep concern Thursday over the SARS-like virus that has killed 22 people in less than a year, saying it might potentially spread more widely between humans.
"We have a high level of concern over the potential... for this virus to have sustainable person-to-person spread," WHO deputy chief Keiji Fukuda told diplomats gathered in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, the UN agency's decision-making body.
There has already been evidence of limited transmission between humans, and last week the WHO said two Saudi health workers had contracted the deadly coronavirus from patients—the first evidence of transmission in a hospital setting.
But Fukuda said the WHO was looking into "whether this has the potential to have a more extensive spread, more extensive transmission."
Given the high fatality rate relative to the number of cases, experts have highlighted the power of the virus and the frightening prospect of its mutating into a form that leaps easily from human to human.
Fukuda's comments came after Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said another person had died from the virus. With a total death toll of 17, it has been the hardest hit by the disease that first emerged last June.
So far, there have been 44 lab-confirmed cases worldwide, half of them fatal, with 30 infections in Saudi Arabia and the rest spread across Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Britain and France.
Most of the patients infected in Europe and Tunisia had links to or had travelled in the Middle East.
The WHO said Thursday the virus, which until now has been known as the novel coronavirus, or nCoV-EMC, had been redubbed the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV)...http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-voices-deep-sars-like-virus.html

WHO warns countries not to hoard secrets of coronavirus

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) warned countries with possible cases of the SARS-like novel coronavirus on Thursday that they must share information and not allow commercial labs to profit from the virus, which has killed 22 ...  which has killed 22 people worldwide. Saudi Arabia, where the first case occurred, has said the development of diagnostic tests for the disease has been delayed by a foreign laboratory's patent rights on the SARS-like virus. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-23/lifestyle/sns-rt-us-coronavirus-whobre94m0zl-20130523_1_sars-like-virus-erasmus-medical-center-first-case

Fatal MERS-CoV Confirmed In Tunisia ex-KSA/Qatar

Recombinomics Commentary 18:15
May 20, 2013

according to a statement from the Ministry of Health published in the day Monday, May 20, 2013. The victim of this virus is a 66 year old man who died at the hospital Fatuma Bourguiba in Monastir, after his trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The above translation describes a confirmed MERS-CoV fatality (66M) in Tunisia (see map) who developed symptoms after travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar. Additional reports cite coronavirus confirmation in one or two sons, although it is unclear if these cases are also in Tunisia or the Middle East.

Although confirmed onward transmission in Tunisia is unclear, the export of MERS-CoV from Saudi Arabia or Qatar represents the third confirmed example of spread via commercial airline. The earlier SARS-like clusters in England and France involved onward transmission, raising concerns that MERS-CoV is far more common in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa than the reported confirmed cases.More information on this cluster, including age, gender, disease onset dates and locations would be useful.

MERS-CoV Fatal Infections In Children In Eastern KSA???

MERS-CoV Fatal Infections In Children In Eastern KSARecombinomics Commentary 23:00
May 16, 2013

Which reduced the time the Minister of Health of Corona virus turned into an epidemic, died yesterday of a child infected with the virus (10 years) at Qatif Central Hospital, bringing the death toll to 16 people.
Sources in the hospital for medical "home" has been receiving two cases riddled with the virus after their transfer from a hospital in Al-Ahsa. The sources pointed out that the baby died after his health deteriorated, result satisfactory complications due to the virus, while the other injured were transported to a hospital isolation room.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health announced yesterday for the registration of two cases confirmed in the eastern region of the health practitioners;
The above translation describes the death of a 10 year old in Qatif (see map) who transferred to the central hospital from Al-Ahsa. The description strong suggests that the death was due to MERS-CoV, but the case has not been cited at the KSA MoH website of the WHO coronavirus website. This death follows the death of a 9 year old girl who was initially described on May 5. The case was cited at a press conference that described nCoV cases and two cases (9M and 21M) were detailed. Earlier reports had indicated 5 classmates of the fatal case (9F) had been hospitalized with SARS-like symptoms, but non-disclosure agreement was required, raising serious transparency issues. Two other fatal cases (10 and 11 year olds) had also been described, as had the death of an eighteen year old.

However, none of the cases have been reported as confirmed MERS-CoV cases even though some trace back to last month, and some are associated with school closings.

Recent media reports also noted that 560 suspect cases had been tested in May and 30 recent cases were still being reviewed. Moreover, the two MERS-CoV confirmed health care practitioners have been described as Aramco technicians running MERS-CoV PCR tests in Dhahran (see map), although some reports say they were doctor and nurse who were exposed to infected patients.

The large number of confirmed and suspect cases raise concerns that the reporting of the younger cases is being delayed or withheld due to concerns of alarm or false negatives, which are common especially if testing is not done on samples from the lower respiratory tract.

More detail on reasons why the fatal cases have not been reported would be useful.

Moreover, the absence of any confirmed cases following the six cases reported two days ago raises additional transparency concerns.

Canadian expert says Saudi coronavirus outbreak 'complex' but report pending

.But cant tell you anything new...

By Helen Branswell, The Canadian PressMay 22, 2013 7:50 AMTORONTO - A Canadian infectious diseases expert who is helping to investigate a large coronavirus outbreak in Saudi Arabia says she understands people's frustration about the lack of information on the situation.
But Dr. Allison McGeer says the outbreak is complex and pulling together the data to accurately reflect what has been going on in the Al-Ahsa region of the country just takes time. She also revealed that a report on the outbreak is being written.
"The only thing worse than not sharing data is sharing data that turns out to be not correct. And this is a very complicated investigation," said McGeer, who returned to Canada from the Middle East on Saturday.
"It's not simple. The answers are and were not completely clear."
The outbreak, the largest to date with the new virus, has produced at least 22 cases, nine of which have been fatal. It has involved spread among patients in a hospital and from them to family members and even two health-care workers. It is not yet apparent whether the outbreak is over.
The most recently reported case in this cluster was revealed on Saturday, an 81-year-old woman who was reported to be in critical but stable condition.
Globally there have been 43 confirmed MERS infections and 21 of the cases have been fatal. (The acronym stands for Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome.) Cases have been reported from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Britain, Germany, France and Tunisia. But the European and Tunisian cases all had their origins in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.
McGeer is the head of infection control at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. She was a key player in the city's response during the 2003 SARS outbreak, and actually contracted the disease herself. Her experience with that pathogen — which is from the same family as the MERS coronavirus — is one of the reasons she was asked to travel to Saudi Arabia to help with the investigation.
The other is that the Saudi deputy health minister, Dr. Ziad Memish, trained in Toronto and knows many of the infectious diseases experts here. Memish got his medical degree at the University of Ottawa but did his internal medicine and infectious diseases training in Toronto.
McGeer was one of three infection control specialists who travelled to Saudi Arabia to help with the outbreak, and was the one who stayed the longest. Dr. Trish Perl, an expert from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md., and Dr. Connie Price from the University of Colorado in Denver also spent a few days in Saudi Arabia at Memish's invitation. Both Perl and Price were among a number of U.S. infection control specialists who came to Toronto during the SARS outbreak to help contain the spread of the disease.
A fourth infection control expert, Dr. Paul Tambyah of National University of Singapore, had also been invited but was not in Saudi Arabia while McGeer was there. She said he was, however, one of a number of experts who were consulted by phone.
There has been much — if muted — frustration voiced about how little information has emerged from Saudi Arabia and other MERS-source countries since the new virus was first spotted last fall. And the mostly behind-the-scenes grumbling has intensified since Saudi Arabia revealed in early May that it had discovered what has turned out to be a large outbreak in the eastern Saudi city of Al Hofuf, near the Persian Gulf. Al Hofuf is in the Al-Ahsa region.
In fact, when WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan opened the World Health Assembly on Monday she lauded China for the openness of its efforts to combat H7N9 bird flu, but offered no corresponding praise for Saudi Arabia and the MERS-affected countries when she talked about the threat posed by the new coronavirus. The assembly is the annual general meeting of WHO member states.
McGeer would not speak about some aspects of what she learned in Saudi Arabia, but she did say that a detailed report on the outbreak is pending.
"Although I can sense frustration, the situation is exactly as described by the Saudis in their postings" to the WHO and to ProMED, McGeer said. ProMED is an Internet-based infectious diseases surveillance system through which Memish has revealed some information about the Al-Ahsa outbreak.
McGeer did say, however, that given what she saw in Saudi Arabia, she is confident governments elsewhere have the advice they need to detect the new coronavirus and protect against its spread in their hospitals.
"I think that the current World Health Organization recommendations for surveillance and for management (of cases) are good and should be followed."
She said she is also confident that the people handling the hospital-based outbreak in Al Hofuf are doing a good job. She would not name the facility, but media reports from Saudi Arabia have revealed it is al Moosa Hospital.
That said, McGeer would not offer an opinion on how soon the outbreak will be contained.
"If you'd asked me on the 15th of May (2003) during SARS, I'd have been dead wrong. I think the last thing you want to be about an outbreak when it's not over is optimistic," she said.
"It does not mean I'm pessimistic. It just means it doesn't do to make assumptions until outbreaks are really over."
The reference to May 15, 2003, relates to an embarrassing incident in Toronto's SARS outbreak. It had appeared that transmission of the virus had stopped in early May. So in mid-May the Ontario government lifted the state of emergency and hospital personnel were informed they no longer needed to wear the mask-like respirators that were protecting them from the SARS virus.
Within days of the all-clear going out, health-care workers started showing up in Toronto emergency rooms. They'd contracted the disease from SARS patients who hadn't been spotted, and transmission was off and running again. It took until early July before the second wave of the outbreak was contained.
McGeer also wouldn't venture to guess what the future holds for this coronavirus — whether it will continue to make occasional forays into people or will start to transmit efficiently among them and spread broadly around the world.
"I don't have any idea what it's planning on doing and I don't think it is predictable at the moment," she said.
"It is, I think, likely that there will be continued sporadic cases. ... But whether this is a stable sporadic virus that will continue to do what it's been doing and not change very much or whether it's a virus that's in the process of changing and is going to cause more trouble is, I think, a completely open question."
She suggested study of the genetic sequences of viruses from a number of cases and a number of locations would help the world assess the risk the MERS virus poses.
"That's the only thing I can think of in the short term that is going to help with deciding how much trouble this virus will cause."
But to date only five viral sequences have been shared with the international scientific community. No sequences from the Al-Hasa outbreak have been released.  http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Canadian+expert+says+Saudi+coronavirus+outbreak+complex+report/8415688/story.html

Novel coronavirus infection - update

22 May 2013 -The Ministry of Health in Tunisia has notified WHO of two laboratory-confirmed cases and a probable case of infection with the novel coronavirus (nCoV).

The two laboratory confirmed cases are a 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman. They are siblings. Both of them had mild respiratory illness and did not require hospitalization. Retrospective investigation into the cases revealed that the probable case, their father, 66 year old, became ill three days after returning from a visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia on 3 May 2013. He was admitted to a hospital after developing acute respiratory disease. His condition deteriorated and he died on 10 May 2013. He had an underlying health condition. Initial laboratory tests conducted on the probable case tested negative for nCoV.
Further investigation into this outbreak is ongoing and close contacts of the family are being monitored for any unusual signs of illness. These are the first confirmed cases of infection with nCoV in Tunisia.
In Saudi Arabia, a patient earlier reported as part of the ongoing investigation into an outbreak that began in a health care facility since the beginning of April 2013, has died. To date, a total of 22 patients including 10 deaths have been reported from this outbreak in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia. The government is conducting an ongoing investigation into the outbreak.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 43 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with nCoV, including 21 deaths. Several countries in the Middle East have been affected. They are Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Cases have also been reported by four additional countries: France, Germany, Tunisia and the United Kingdom. All of the cases have had a direct or indirect connection to the Middle East, including two cases with recent travel history from the UAE. In France and the United Kingdom, there has been limited local transmission among close contacts who had not been to the Middle East but had been in contact with a traveler who recently returned from the Middle East.
Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travelers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for nCoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations. Specimens from patients’ lower respiratory tracts should be obtained for diagnosis where possible. Clinicians are reminded that nCoV infection should be considered even with atypical signs and symptoms, such as diarrhoea, particularly in patients who are immunocompromised.
Health care facilities are reminded of the importance of systematic implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC). Health care facilities that provide care for patients with suspected nCoV infection should take appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus to other patients, health care workers and visitors.
All Member States are reminded to promptly assess and notify WHO of any new case of infection with nCoV, along with information about potential exposures that may have resulted in infection and a description of the clinical course. Investigation into the source of exposure should promptly be initiated to identify the mode of exposure, so that further transmission of the virus can be prevented.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.
WHO continues to closely monitor the situation.  http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_05_22_ncov/en/index.html

How much longer will they tell you this with a straight face?? How much longer before you realize the truth??
 

Busy,Busy

I see all is well with the new coronavirus. too bad they arent telling you everything.In the us and confirmed soon enuff. Why worry?.. you govt is keeping you abreast of the situation!

ministry, in Italy no case of' new Sars'

To reassure the national situation the Ministry of Health, recalling that "Italy is already active in a network of surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections (Sari) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which involves the local offices of the Ministry and structures regional

Shura» tomorrow discusses preventive measures to prevent the arrival of the virus 'Corona' epidemiological Egypt

Provide Safwat Abdel Ghani Shura Council member, Chairman of the Parliamentary Party of construction and development urgent statement will be discussed on Tuesday in the presence of the Ministers of Health and Civil Aviation on disease "Corona" epidemic, so to take all measures to non-entry of the disease into Egypt, especially in light of spread of the Arab Gulf States .

For his part, Khaled Shobokshi political activist in a statement today that "Corona" is a disease fatal moves in contact, which made the WHO raises alert and calls for extreme caution from respiratory infections serious caused by the virus similar to the SARS virus, which has since its inception to the injury of 30 people in different countries, recorded, including 18 deaths, indicating that the disease is found growing in the Arab Gulf States.

Coronavirus: fear of the scenario of the epidemic

13/05 | 6:39 p.m.

Egyptian virologist who identified the new coronavirus, believes that the epidemic "happen." The virus "will gradually become more easily transmitted."

The new coronavirus has killed at least 18 people, more than half of those infected. - AFP

The Egyptian doctor who first identified the new coronavirus (NCoV) having infected at least 32 people in the Middle East and Europe, including two in France, a judge probable epidemic. Ali Mohamed Zaki think, however, that if this is the case, it will not remain coronavirus as virulent present. "Given the developments, it seems that it will gradually become more transmissible," said the Egyptian Virologist questioned Monday over the phone.

However, it seemed that the relatively early discovery of this coronavirus allows the international community to be better prepared than during the SARS epidemic, which caused 775 deaths in 2003 after being spread throughout the world. In both cases, there is respiratory disease whose main symptoms are fever and cough.

"Here, we have identified the virus before the outbreak occurs, and I think it will happen, and we have the tools to diagnose," said Ali Mohamed Zaki, who identified the virus in June 2012 in he treated a patient in a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.The new coronavirus has killed at least 18 people, more than half of those infected.Ali Mohamed Zaki, who now has the Ain Shams University in Cairo, believes, however, that mortality rates drop to measure the spread of the coronavirus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers it likely that transmission from human to human coronavirus but only after close and prolonged contact. In France, a man who shared the hospital room of a contaminated Valenciennes patient was also infected with the coronavirus .

Oversight of the new coronavirus (NCoV) infections. Point to 13 May 2013.

Published on 13/05/2013

On 7 May 2013, the first case of acute respiratory infection with novel coronavirus (NCoV) was reported to InVS by the National Reference Center (NRC) for Influenza virus at the Pasteur Institute, which conducted the diagnostic virology . It was the first confirmed case in France.This patient was hospitalized due to a holiday in the UAE.

This new virus was identified in Saudi Arabia in September 2012, in two patients who presented in June and September 2012 severe pneumonia and in some cases acute renal failure. Following this discovery, monitoring has been established under the coordination of the World Health Organization (WHO http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/en/ ) and the European Centre Prevention and Control (ECDC: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/EN/HEALTHTOPICS/CORONAVIRUS-INFECTIONS/Pages/index.aspx ) to identify other possible cases.

As of 13 May 2013, 34 cases of infection with the new coronavirus have been reported worldwide since April 2012, 20 have died. The vast majority of cases (n = 26) were identified in the Arabian Peninsula and 8 cases were identified in Europe: four in the UK, two in Germany and two in France. The first case was diagnosed French May 7, 2013 and the second May 12, 2013. To date, these two patients were hospitalized in the ICU and are still in a serious condition.

Most of these patients have traveled to the Arabian Peninsula. In France, the first case stayed in the UAE but the second did not travel. It has against during his hospitalization, roommates French first case while it was already symptomatic but undiagnosed for NCoV. Also in the UK, two cases had not traveled in countries at risk. They had been in contact with one confirmed case, who had traveled to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

These facts suggest the existence of human transmission of infection. One of the two cases in the UK has developed a mild form of the disease (flu-like syndrome), which may suggest that some symptomatic cases have escaped monitoring implementation. However, data collected to date do not indicate a significant human to human transmission of this new virus in the community.

France has implemented since 1 ^st October 2012 coordinated by the Institut de Veille Sanitaire surveillance has received 53 reports about suspected infection NCoV: only two have been confirmed by the NRC.

Following the diagnosis of the first French case, an initial investigation has identified contacts of this patient: 127 people (including 116 health professionals) were contacted. Of these, 6 were symptomatic and were tested: one (a patient who had shared the room the first case) was positive. In addition, a second investigation was conducted with people who have done the same tour the United Arab Emirates as the first case, to look for other cases and investigate the circumstances of the first case of contamination: 37 people were identified and 32 were contacted to date. The respondents have no signs of infection.

A third investigation was implemented to identify the contacts of the second case: 39 people were interviewed on May 12 on their health.They received information about the corona, as well as advice on what to do if they experience symptoms of infection. They have a daily monitoring until May 18, 10 days after contact with the second case.

The virus of the coronavirus family are many and varied. They can infect humans and animals. In humans, symptoms are variable.Coronaviruses can cause mild respiratory infections and other severe respiratory infections. The new coronavirus identified in September 2012 is relatively close to the human SARS coronavirus, identified in 2003, which caused a global epidemic. NCoV infection manifested by fever and respiratory symptoms may be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, a case with a mild form of the disease (flu syndrome) has been described in England. The incubation period is currently estimated at 10 days.

The situation is being closely monitored by the WHO and ECDC. Investigations are underway in countries with reported cases to deepen knowledge about the virus. According to WHO and ECDC, based on currently available information, this new virus does not seem to spread easily from human to human, unlike the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus. The origin of the contamination of confirmed cases remains unknown at the present state of knowledge.

In France, the High Council of Public Health published March 19 a document detailing the management of patients with suspected infections with novel coronavirus ( http://www.hcsp.fr/explore.cgi/avisrapportsdomaine?clefr = 314 ).

This information is subject to change depending on the occurrence of new cases and investigations continue to be conducted with confirmed cases and their contacts.

The health of the second carrier coronavirus deteriorates

Monday, May 13, 2013 1:35 p.m

LILLE (Reuters) - The health of the second patient carrying the coronavirus (NCoV) deteriorated further during the night of Sunday to Monday, announced Monday the Lille University Hospital where the man is hospitalized

"The doctors found a respiratory deterioration occurred on the night of Sunday to Monday. Has been placed under assisted ventilation by respirator Monday morning. His condition is not yet stabilized," reads a statement.

This man of fifty years has shared his room at the hospital in Valenciennes (North) for four days with the first carrier. He was admitted to the intensive care unit Sunday after an initial deterioration of his health.

The first identified patient, a man aged 65, presents the statement of the University Hospital in respiratory failure and is still under extracorporeal assistance. No sign of improvement is observed by doctors, who consider her "permanent and serious" condition.

This new development accredits advanced Sunday by WHO hypothesis of human transmission of NCoV - a virus similar to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), which had several hundred deaths in China in 2003 - the source and mode transmission are formally established. http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRPAE94C02I20130513?rpc=401

Kingdom diagnosed 45 virus infected patients, of whom 15 died

WHO endorses Saudi steps to check coronavirus

Monday 13 May 2013

Last Update 13 May 2013 2:25 am

Saudi Arabia has taken steps to protect its people from the coronavirus. The experience and knowledge that the country has gained fighting coronavirus can benefit the rest of the world, said a visiting WHO official.
Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of the WHO’s Health Security and Environment, said the Kingdom has taken the coronavirus situation seriously and its Ministry of Health has initiated public health action, including intensifying surveillance, initiating investigations and research and putting preventive measures in place.
“One of the reasons why more cases have been identified in KSA may be because they have gone ahead to strengthen their surveillance system, lab capacity and network,” he said.
Upon invitation from the Kingdom, a team of health experts arrived in the country on Friday to assess the status of the spread of the virus in the country. The visiting team includes two WHO officials, Fukuda and Dr. Jawad, quarantine director of communicable diseases of the WHO in Cairo. The other international scientists are Dr. Connie Savor Price, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Denver Health Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Denver; Trish Burrell, consultant, infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University; Paul Tambaiah, consultant infectious diseases the University of Singapore; and Allison Mack Qier of Mount Toronto Hospital.
On Saturday, the team visited the health facilities in Hofuf and the hospital, where a number of infected cases were treated.
Fukuda was speaking at a meeting held yesterday under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health here.
Welcoming the delegation, Al-Rabeeah said that since last September, the Kingdom diagnosed 45 virus infected patients, of whom 15 died. He dismissed reports that the virus attack was confined to Al-Ahsa province, and said there were incidences in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh, too.
“We will continue to cooperate with the WHO and other international organizations in the fight against infectious diseases for the betterment of the nation,” he stressed.
“We have not come to inspect the measures taken by the Kingdom,” Fukuda said, adding that the team came here to see what was found in general about the disease.
“In the Kingdom, we have seen the importance of better surveillance. When new cases are found, as is likely, it is critical for countries to report these cases and related information urgently to the WHO as required by international health regulations because this is the basis for effective international alertness, preparedness and response,” he said.
“Countries also need to assess their level of preparedness and readiness if this virus should spread and intensify the core capacities identified in the international health regulations if they are not adequate. The WHO is ready to assist countries in this region and globally in these tasks,” he said. http://www.arabnews.com/news/451453