Sun May 25, 2014, 11:39  

"The markets are open ... No new cases of Ebola in Télimélé! ", Says the prefect, Souleymane Camara Mouloukou

In a telephone interview with Guineenews Sunday morning, the prefect of Télimélé confirmed that the markets were not finally closed.

"The market is not closed. Indeed, in my absence, the crisis committee had decided to close markets to minimize the risk of contamination through contact. But officials Doctors Without Borders (MSF) arrived here with a psychologist advised us to do so. You know that these NGOs, MSF, WHO and others have a long experience in managing such cases. So they said the closure of markets can create psychosis and amplify risks, "said the Prefect Souleymane Camara Mouloukou.
According to the prefect of these NGOs and Télimélé Plan Guinea brought beyond advice, chlorine solutions for hygienic provisions are made in the major centers for disinfection.
In addition, a conveyor of the Ministry of Social Action landed yesterday (Saturday) to Horé Loûbha cartons of soap, kettles, buckets with lids, gloves, over-water, etc.. "We expect the delegation of donors to deliver these materials to beneficiaries," said the prefect of Télimélé.
What could Télimélé nationals living outside, Mr. Souleymane Camara Mouloukou recalled that victims need to be helped. "We need to help the families of the victims through counseling and even financial and material aid. Nowadays, people who were concerned about what to eat may be stigmatized, etc.." Said the prefect.
To remember that no new cases are reported from the first samples that confirmed the contamination of Ebola two patients currently undergoing treatment. Pending completion of the incubation period of 21 days, 41 contacts are being followed which children under two years of the late third ...

Air conditioners may transfer corona virus

0

»» Rely on air circulation inside the cabin .. specialist for the day:

Air crashes aircraft transmits the virus «Corona»

Abdullah Al-Amari - Riyadh 25/05/2014 - 03:05:00

Revealed a specialist in the field of aeronautical engineering for "Today" that the civil aircraft depends on the principle of recycling cab air and pump adapted, so as to relieve the load on the engine, pointing to the high probability of transmission of HIV syndrome Middle East respiratory "Corona" when crashes HVAC systems in the plane.

The flight engineer Hassan Bin Mansour: "relies most (if were not all) civil aircraft business to recycle cab air and pumped adapted thereafter, so as to relieve the load on the motor, which pulls them air and enters into a complex process of filtration and cooling until it is ready to pump refrigerated compartment (passenger cabin), and noted that the primary source of air conditioner is the engine, have adopted the technology recycling cab air and use 37% to 50% in general, and so as I said, to ease the load on the engine and saving fuel mainly.
"The air is withdrawn from the Shabak button below along both sides of the cab (a place to sit next to the window under the left foot for« Wright »grille that extends along the cab, which pulls cab air in preparation for recycling), where the air is pulled through the clamp mentioned in point No. 3 , and passes on the filter is called the HEPA Filter and which purifies the air of impurities and even bacteria, viruses, micro, which up to 0.01 microns, and this of course includes avian influenza viruses and virus Corona, for illustration only HEPA means High Efficiency Particulate Air or filter The high efficiency of objects infinitesimal.
And about the possibility of injury if McCann is possible if someone is sick in the aircraft cabin, said: "I believe as possible if the pressure generated by the leaching high and exceeds the mechanical air intake, which is below and brought the spray to a remote location, especially if you do not cover the patient's nose or mouth, But thanks to God remain probabilistic weaker than the place is closed and there is no drag and recycling of air as it is located by plane (small room, bus, etc. ....), as the probability of infection of course very high in the plane in my opinion if the air conditioning system to hang.
The virus Corona covers a wide range of types of viruses that can cause colds, and in some cases can cause a syndrome of acute respiratory infections (SARS), and in most cases of infection with this virus the symptoms are similar, such as high fever, body aches, sore throat, and was nominated and cough, and in most cases these symptoms persist for two days and then disappear.
The Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization to find out more medical information about this virus, and include ways of transmission of types (Corona) other influenza in general include: direct transmission through droplets from the patient during coughing or sneezing, and the transition is direct through touching surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus, and then touching their mouth or nose or eye, and direct contact with the patients, and the possibility of transmission through infected camels and bats.  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alyaum.com%2FNews%2Fart%2F141331.html

Saudi Health: No cure for'' Corona'' yet

24-05-2014 01:43 PM Print  0 0 0 Graca News - Graca - The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia awareness messages published through various means, he did not discover the cure for HIV Corona yet. The ministry warned in letters from drifting behind these rumors promoted by crooks looking for a personal interest. The ministry said it is closely following all the global efforts in the fight against the virus, and coordinate with the World Health Organization, and promised to publish all the information curative and preventive official that contribute to, God willing, in the fight against this disease. It is reported that recently spread news about the discovery of chemical drugs and medical help in the healing of the Corona virus attributed to some American universities and other universal. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gerasanews.com%2Findex.php

Jordan Health: Lab results for 28 samples did not show any injury CZK

Laboratory tests showed the Ministry of Health on Saturday negative results (ie, non-registration of injuries) for a sample of 28 public hospitals and 7 private suspected cases infected with coronavirus. Includes samples, 18 samples of contact with an infected case recorded yesterday evening in one of the public hospitals. The director of communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Abdullat in a statement to Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the injured and the old 69-year-old suffering from high pressure and diabetes and is now being treated. He added that teams from the Directorate of communicable diseases in collaboration with the Health Directorate of the capital after the injury proved investigate her contacts at home and among health staff and coordination with the hospital to double infection control measures. He explained that the total number of injuries has risen to become the 10 cases recorded since the first case of the virus in Jordan in 2012 died, including five cases. (Petra) http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgaraanews.com%2F

Health: Lab results for 28 samples did not show any injury CZK

Hardiness News - Jordan News -

Laboratory tests showed the Ministry of Health on Saturday negative results (ie, non-registration of injuries) for a sample of 28 public hospitals and 7 private suspected cases infected with coronavirus.

Includes samples, 18 samples of contact with an infected case recorded yesterday evening in one of the public hospitals.

The director of communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Abdullat in a statement to Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the injured and the old 69-year-old suffering from high pressure and diabetes and is now being treated.

He added that teams from the Directorate of communicable diseases in collaboration with the Health Directorate of the capital after the injury proved investigate her contacts at home and among health staff and coordination with the hospital to double infection control measures.

He explained that the total number of injuries has risen to become the 10 cases recorded since the first case of the virus in Jordan in 2012 died, including five cases. (Petra)

CZK new infections in the University Hospital

Date: 24/05/2014

The director of health care at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bashir short on Friday night, Saturday, injuring a citizen Steny disease Koruna in the Jordan University Hospital.

A short that laboratory tests confirmed that the citizen sixtieth virus 'corona' and enter the hospital Aljtmah Jordan, where proceeded health care teams do quarantine precautionary isolated case, after placing patient department isolation and intensive care for the purpose of adjusting the deployment of infection and provide the necessary medical care.
He added that the short incubation period of the virus exist Corona human body after suffering from 2-14 days, stressing that the number of cases that have been proven by the disease until Friday evening is the 10 cases, stressing that 5 people have died succumbed to the disease.

He advised the short citizens more prevention, caution and follow the means of infection control and try to stay away from places Elms Dhma and use napkins when you sneeze and cough and advised to get rid of napkins dumped bags of trash aphid, and wash your hands as a precautionary measure that was forced to shake hands after the meet people likely to take them to the infection, also called Dr cleared hands and surfaces used.  http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.kermalkom.com/more.php%3Fnewsid%3D99385%26catid%3D34&usg=ALkJrhgCaO174E30B1UkYW0J2Nqob2QAnA

Suspected cases of MERS investigated in Virginia

http://www.wvec.com/news/Suspected-cases-of-MERS-showing-up-in-Virginia-260112661.html

by Lucy Bustamante, 13News Now

WVEC.com

Posted on May 21, 2014 at 1:41 PM

Updated Thursday, May 22 at 6:12 AM

RICHMOND -- State health officials are investigating whether several Virginians may have been exposed to Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS.
Dr. Laurie Forlano, the deputy state epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health, tells 13 News Now that they are monitoring "several" Virginians who were on airplanes and may have come into contact with people who were sick.
She stresses that no cases have been confirmed in Virginia and they’re keeping track of each region of the state, including Hampton Roads.
Dr. Forlano says "If a doctor suspects that their patient may have MERS, they have to notify the local health department. The Virginia Department of Health then works with clinicians to determine whether testing for MERS is necessary."
It takes anywhere from 24-48 hours to get results from those tests.
Three people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with MERS: a man in Orlando, Florida, one in Indiana and one in Illinois.
Overall, about 600 people worldwide have had the respiratory illness and about 175 people have died.
Dr. Forlano says she has faith that the military is currently working on future vaccinations for American service members who travel to the Arabian Peninsula.
A Portsmouth Naval spokesperson tells 13News Now they have not heard of a vaccine being created for MERS, but they have developed a test for it. 
Meantime, the US Navy Bureau of Medicine & Surgery tweeted at 12:20 p.m. "Military treatment facilities @USNavy & @USMC Public Health Center released guidance on #MERSCoV."  Click here to read that information.
MERS belongs to the coronavirus family that includes the common cold and SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.
Health officials say there is no vaccine or cure and there's no specific treatment except to relieve symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Not all those exposed to the virus become ill.

Low numbers who wish to perform Umrah Ramadan around 50%

24 May 2014

0

afp.com / /

Low numbers who wish to perform Umrah Ramadan around 50%

Decreased the number of applicants to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, by up to 50% compared to the corresponding numbers in the past years, according to the newspaper for Union managers and representatives of the campaigns for the Hajj and Umrah.

And behind so many reasons, the most important information about the spread of HIV Coruna in Saudi Arabia.

The managers said the campaigns told the newspaper that "the decline in demand negatively affected campaigns, and has some of the campaigns, promotional offers, but the demand for the limited lose my step influence, was associated with the reduction in the prices of some services in Saudi Arabia, but it did not live up to the required level."

Officials demanded campaigns, provide many of the facilities by the concerned authorities in the country to represent the factors attracting new, calling on the Ministry of Health to re-theme of vaccinations to what it was previously, which is that vaccination is free to all, and not be required to obtain the card health for those interested in vaccination among departments Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Health. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afp.com%2Far%2Fnews%2F%25d8%25a7%25d9%2586%25d8%25ae%25d9%2581%25d8%25a7%25d8%25b6-%25d8%25a8%25d8%25a3%25d8%25b9%25d8%25af%25d8%25a7%25d8%25af-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25b1%25d8%25a7%25d8%25ba%25d8%25a8%25d9%258a%25d9%2586-%25d9%2581%25d9%258a-%25d8%25a3%25d8%25af%25d8%25a7%25d8%25a1-%25d8%25b9%25d9%2585%25d8%25b1%25d8%25a9-%25d8%25b1%25d9%2585%25d8%25b6%25d8%25a7%25d9%2586-%25d8%25a8%25d8%25ad%25d9%2588%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d9%2589-50

New case of coronavirus in Jordan

May 24, 2014 - 2:29:50 pm

AMMAN: A sixty year old Jordanian citizen has attracted the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, raising the cases of the illness in Jordan to 10, the Jordanian Ministry of Health announced today.
Director of Health Care at the Jordanian Ministry of Health Dr. Bashir Al-Qaseer said in press release today that laboratory tests confirmed that the citizen was suffering from the coronavirus and was admitted to the Jordanian University Hospital.
The patient was quarantined in the isolation and intensive care section to be proved with the necessary medical care.
Dr. Al-Qaseer added that the incubation period of the coronavirus in human body after contracting the virus ranges between 2 to 14 days, stressing that the number of proven cases in Jordan until yesterday reached 10 cases, including 5 deaths.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness. It is caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. (QNA). http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/latest-news/284959/new-case-of-coronavirus-in-jordan

Special Report : Saudi Arabia takes heat for spread of MERS virus

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent

LONDON Thu May 22, 2014 1:50am EDT

1 of 3. A man wearing a mask poses with camels at a camel market in the village of al-Thamama near Riyadh in this May 11, 2014 file photo.

Credit: Reuters/Faisal Nasser/Files

Related Video

Spread of MERS in Saudi Arabia puts camel owners on defense

(Reuters) - In a north London laboratory on a Saturday in September 2012, an email arrived from a team of virologists in the Netherlands that spooked even some of the world's most seasoned virus handlers.
It contained details of a mysterious viral pathogen that had been found in two patients - a Qatari in intensive care in Britain, and a Saudi who died in a Jeddah hospital of pneumonia and renal failure.
This information-sharing between world-leading specialists proved fruitful: Within days the new virus had been identified as one never seen before in humans, had some of its genes sequenced, and its genetic ancestry published online for scientists around the world to see.
Yet that international collaboration was not to last.
Instead, Western scientists allege, the cooperation gave way to a Saudi culture of suspicion and stubbornness that has allowed the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, as it has become known, to kill more than 175 people in Saudi Arabia, spread throughout the region and reach as far as Malaysia, Greece, Lebanon and - via Britain - the United States.
The disease, like its cousin Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), causes coughing, fever and sometimes fatal pneumonia. More than 650 people worldwide have been infected with it, and MERS is reaching new victims every day in the Saudi kingdom, killing around 30 percent of them.
Experts say these infections and deaths could have been stopped well within the two years since MERS first emerged - and would have been if Saudi authorities had been more open to outside help offered by specialist teams around the world with the technology, know-how and will to conduct vital scientific studies.
But according to scientists involved in tracking MERS over the past two years, the Saudis have rejected repeated offers of help - including from World Health Organisation (WHO) experts, as well as the Dutch specialists at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam and the London team working for Public Health England (PHE).
In Saudi Arabia, no case-control study has been completed, meaning fundamental questions cannot be answered about the virus' capabilities, where it came from, and what it might do next.
"It's really a tragedy for these people who get sick," said David Heymann, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology, chairman of PHE and head of global health security at Britain's Royal Institute of International Affairs.
"It's just so frustrating not to know how people are getting infected and to see people continue to get infected and die from a virus which maybe they wouldn't have to get if we knew more."
Saudi Deputy Health Minister Ziad Memish told Reuters he was "surprised" by such criticisms, describing work done by his Ministry of Health since the emergence of the disease as "nothing but collaborative." He pointed out that scientists still struggle to understand other deadly viruses decades after they were first identified, and questioned the motives of some critics.
"I'm happy" with the way the Saudi authorities have handled this virus outbreak, "and will continue to involve more partners to make knowing the details of the virus a global success," he said in an email.
SO LONG, SO LITTLE KNOWLEDGE
Scientists say what stands out about the MERS virus is just how little the world knows about it, even though for almost two years it has been viewed as one of the top potential pandemic threats by a global network of specialists who keep tabs on all emerging viruses.
Primary responsibility for the response lies with the Saudi Ministry of Health, which under international health regulations reports to the WHO on MERS cases.
The ministry has from the start worked intermittently with various global agencies and institutions, including the WHO, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Columbia and Ecohealth Alliance. Some of them have expressed frustration about Saudi authorities' apparent lack of urgency. The WHO, for example, has conducted several scientific missions to the Middle East, primarily to provide support for Saudi Arabia and its neighbors to start the research needed to get on top of the outbreak. Yet much of this work remains undone.
So far, much evidence points to camels as a possible infection source - with the virus staging a so-called zoonotic event by jumping from animals to people. But scientists still have no idea how people are getting infected, whether by eating camel meat, or drinking the milk, touching blood or other body fluids, or simply being nearby when they cough or sneeze.
There is also no good data on how many people may be catching the virus but showing no or few symptoms, or how to successfully treat patients who get sick with MERS.
"There is so much missing in our knowledge of this infection after 20 months - whether it be the epidemiology, the transmission routes, the virology, or behavioral change," said Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease specialist and director of the Wellcome Trust international charity.
The Saudis have been offered a lot of help, he said, but "they are not open to it."
"The world is very lucky this virus seems to be stable and doesn't seem to be changing, but 20 months in to the emergence of a new virus, just imagine if it had been another SARS."
Comparisons with SARS have dogged the MERS coronavirus since it first surfaced - not only because the two viruses belong to the same family but also because they cause similar symptoms.
There is one key difference: SARS in 2003 was more dangerous than MERS is now, not because it has a higher fatality rate - the SARS death toll was lower at around 10 percent - but because it spread more easily from person to person.
LIKE SARS, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
When SARS hit global headlines in 2003, it had already been circulating unchecked in China for several months. It fell below the radar of the WHO, which was kept in the dark by secretive Chinese officials.
When Beijing did come clean, Public Health England's Heymann, who back then was chief of the WHO's infectious disease section, says public chastising of China, coupled with intensive daily collaboration between specialists, helped bring the outbreak to an end within months. The disease killed almost 800 people worldwide.
"There were three virtual groups - laboratory people, clinicians and epidemiologists - who networked daily by phone and email, working together to solve the problem," Heymann said.
Saudi suspicions about working with teams of researchers outside the kingdom - and the Deputy Minister's desire to stay in control - may have been prompted by precisely the information-sharing that characterized the virus's first few days, interviews with key scientists and public health officials involved in tracking MERS since 2012 suggest. Memish did not respond to that suggestion.
Ali Mohamed Zaki, an Egyptian microbiologist working at the Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, found and reported the first MERS patient by posting lab results on an international scientific website. Zaki was sacked within a week of going public about the new virus. He has since returned to his native Egypt and now works at the faculty of medicine at Cairo's Ain Shams University.
"I lost my job because of this discovery," he told Reuters. No-one at the Jeddah hospital could be contacted for comment.
The fact the Dutch team with whom Zaki had first communicated took out a patent on the newly identified virus seems also to have rankled. In an email to Reuters, Deputy Health Minister Memish described that move as being driven by a "financial agenda."
Ab Osterhaus, who heads the virology department at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, said patenting the virus was the "normal thing to do" in such a situation, and said his lab freely shared details of the virus with everyone and anyone who wants to conduct research.
There are few patents on viruses, largely because most of them were discovered many years ago. But research institutes often take out patents, at the same time as sharing a virus freely, as a way of encouraging future interest from industry in developing vaccines or other drugs.
"We've always been very open with everything," Osterhaus said.
"Somebody should be doing the epidemiological work in Saudi, and we have all the techniques operational today to be involved in those kinds of studies, so we'd be happy to collaborate. We have offered our services to Memish, but apparently we are not the obvious candidates to help."
Others who worked with Saudi scientists at the very beginning of the outbreak, when MERS had not even been named and was only just starting to be investigated, say Saudi authorities - and Memish in particular - wanted an increasing level of control.
Ian Lipkin, a virologist at New York's Columbia University, was among the first to establish a link between the MERS virus and camels. Lipkin told Reuters that he initially worked with Memish, but the two fell out. "I haven't worked with him in six months. We no longer work together at all," he said.
Lipkin declined to give details, saying only: "We're just not in agreement on many things."
A specialist in infectious diseases, Memish has served on advisory committees for the WHO, and published more than 180 papers in the past decade - several in high-impact journals such as The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine, according to an analysis by ThomsonReuters IP & Science unit. This volume of work is indicative of a fairly prolific research scientist, but not out of the ordinary.
Zaki said Memish was "very angry" to hear he was to publish a paper along with Osterhaus's team in the New England Journal of Medicine on the discovery of the MERS virus. "He (Memish) wanted to have the whole story for himself," Zaki said.
And asked whether he, as discoverer of the virus, has since been able to work from Egypt with Saudi scientists to investigate it in more detail, Zaki added: "No no, not at all."
Memish says he'd be happy to work with Lipkin in the future "if his services will be needed and (would) not duplicate our work with other partners." He did not respond to questions about whether he was trying to claim credit for every MERS investigation.
Memish's boss was replaced as Saudi Health Minister just as MERS appeared to be gathering pace. His replacement, Labour Minister Adel Fakieh, was not available for interview with Reuters. His appointment was seen by commentators as an attempt by the government to be seen taking MERS more seriously.
CRITICAL GAPS
As the frustration over the response emerges, big questions about the deadly virus remain.
Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's head of health security, has been careful not to directly criticize Saudi authorities. But in a media briefing on May 14, he described progress as slow and admitted that despite repeated calls from the WHO, crucial research has not yet been done.
"There are critical gaps in information," Fukuda said. He noted in particular the continuing lack of a case-control study - an essential starting point for determining where a new disease is coming from, who it is infecting, and how. "In principle, everybody accepts that the studies are important to do, and that they may yield some of the critical information that is wanted, but ... it has been slow."
In July 2013, he also said the WHO had "conducted a number of missions in the Middle East, primarily to provide support to assess what is the situation, (and) what investigations should be done."
Memish defends his country's actions and says he has collaborated widely. He points to other infectious viral diseases, such as Ebola, which has caused sporadic but deadly outbreaks in Africa since it was first identified 40 years ago and about which scientists still have limited knowledge.
"All these collaborations have answered many questions but of course (there) still remain some to be answered," he said. "Look at Ebola, which has been around for many years, and tell me ... do we have all the answers on source, mode of transmission from zoonotic source and treatment or vaccine prevention?"
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/22/us-saudi-mers-specialreport-idUSBREA4L03D20140522 

Global MERS death toll passes 200-mark

• Filipino nurse in Jeddah among latest fatality

JEDDAH: The world’s total death toll from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has passed the 200-mark and is still going up.
As of Thursday, the cumulative global number of MERS infections since September 2012 was 661, of which 205 patients have died, data compiled from reports of the Saudi Health Ministry and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control showed.
Saudi Arabia bore the brunt of the outbreak, with the Health Ministry's count on May 23, 2014 standing at 551 cases, including 177 deaths.
A statement posted by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control on its website on Thursday said that as of May 20, the cumulative number of infections in all countries other than Saudi Arabia stood at 110, with 28 deaths.
Topping the list was the United Arab Emirates with 67 cases and 9 deaths, followed by Jordan with 9 cases and 4 deaths, and Qatar with 7 cases and 4 deaths.
Rounding up the Middle East countries with MERS cases were Oman had 2 cases, 2 deaths; Kuwait, 3 cases/1 death; Egypt: 1 case/0 deaths; Yemen: 1 case/1 death and Lebanon: 1 case/0 deaths.
In Europe, UK led with 4 cases/3 deaths, followed by Germany: 2 cases/1 death; France, 2 cases/1 death; Italy, 1 case/0 deaths; Greece, 1 case/0 deaths; and the Netherlands, 2 cases/0 deaths.
Africa had 3 cases/1 death, all in Tunisia.
The Americas had two cases, all in the United States.
In Asia, Malaysia reported 1 death and Philippines had 1 infection.
While the Philippines had only one case of infection, a number of Filipino workers in the Middle East were reported to have been among the victims, including two nurses who have died in Saudi Arabia and one in the United Arab Emirates  http://www.arabnews.com/news/575521

MERS-CoV enigma deepens as reported cases surge

The Lancet, Volume 383, Issue 9931, Page 1793, 24 May 2014

<Previous Article|Next Article>

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60866-7Cite or Link Using DOI

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

David Holmes

Experts are puzzled by an explosion of new cases of MERS-CoV, as a WHO committee raises concerns over the handling of the outbreak. David Holmes reports.

Researchers are struggling to explain a rapid rise in reported infections with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). As of May 16, the number of laboratory confirmed cases globally had climbed to 614, with 181 deaths. 418 of those cases have been reported in the past 2 months, mostly in Saudi Arabia.

After it was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS infections have been reported throughout the Arabian peninsula and exported to at least ten other countries. Most confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection have developed severe acute respiratory illness, but the virus also often causes kidney and other organ failure. The mortality rate is around 30%, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available.

While stopping short of proclaiming the outbreak an international public health emergency, the WHO Emergency Committee on MERS-CoV announced on May 14 that its concern over the situation had “significantly increased”, with particular worries over recent evidence that the infection is spreading in hospitals, and apparent “gaps in critical information”.

One of the most crucial gaps is our lack of understanding of where the virus comes from, says Marion Koopmans, of the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health. So far, studies have more or less ruled out sheep, cattle, goats, and poultry as a source, but dromedary camels throughout the Arabian peninsula and in parts of North and East Africa have been shown to carry the virus. However, it is still too early to say definitively that they are the main source of primary infections in humans, says Koopmans. “I am convinced that people and dromedary camels share the same viruses, but how exactly this happens we do not know”, she explains. “Camels shed virus from their nose, and sometimes in stool, which is dropped and may cause environmental contamination. Younger animals seem to be virus-positive more often than adult animals, so combined, the best bet would be to look for exposures (direct or indirect) to young camels as the highest risk factor.”

As young camels lose their maternal immunity they become more susceptible to MERS-CoV infection, and the fact that the latest surge in cases corresponds with similar smaller spikes throughout April and May in 2012 and 2013 in Jordan and Saudi Arabia also suggests that the breeding season could be a factor. However, a seasonal increase in exposure to young camels alone doesn't seem a sufficient explanation, according to Ziad Memish, Saudia Arabia's Deputy Minister for Public Health and professor in the College of Medicine at Alfaisal University in the capital Riyadh. “More than two-thirds of the primary human cases have no links to camels”, he notes. One possibility is that another species is acting as an intermediary. Bats have been touted as a possible source after a bat of the Taphozous genus was found to harbour a fragment of the MERS sequence, but contacts between bats and people are so rare that it “would seem an unlikely explanation”, says Koopmans. Another zoonotic infection, Nipah virus, has been shown to stem from the consumption of date palm sap contaminated by infected fruit bats, but Christian Dorsten, a virologist at the University of Bonn, Germany, who is working with local researchers in Saudi Arabia, says talk of a similar link between bats and MERS is far-fetched. “There are several aspects in recent hypotheses around MERS and bats that make no biological sense at all. For example, it is not true that Taphozous feeds on dates from which the virus could be acquired. Taphozous is insectivorous”, he says.

Another possible explanation for the recent surge in cases is that the virus has acquired mutations enabling it to be transmitted more easily between people, but again, Dorsten notes, the facts tell a different story. Many of the recent cases occurred in the port city of Jeddah, and sequences taken of the Jeddah viruses show no hints of any relevant genetic changes says Dorsten. The Jeddah viruses do, however, seem to be a different strain from those causing infections elsewhere in the country, and are probably linked to a hospital-associated outbreak, according to Dorsten. “Without having seen epidemiological data, I predict that most cases detected in Jeddah will be linked quite directly to the outbreak in King Fahd Hospital from where it spread to other hospitals”, he says.

The prevention of future outbreaks will hinge on countering the “surprising lack of information about how this virus is transmitted from animals to humans”, says Maria Van Kerkhove, liaison between WHO and the UK MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Imperial College London. “Basic epidemiologic studies have still not been done to evaluate risk factors for infection”, she says. “We know that infection control and prevention works to stop human-to-human transmission, but without stopping transmission from camels, we will continue to see more cases in the Middle East, some of whom will travel outside of the region.”

For more on MERS-CoV in health workers see CommentLancet 2014; published online May 20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60852-7

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2960866-7/fulltext?rss=yes 

Livestock Association in Riyadh demanding « Health» refrain from statements Batin free « Corona » and attempts to whitewash the camels of « virus »

Today - Riyadh , Manis Shehhi - Batin 05/21/2014 - 03:00:00
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The Director of the King Khaled Hospital General drilled sub ​​Dr Khader Zafiri he has been the adoption of the hospital as a center for diseases Corona , adding Zafiri he was put department within the hospital helping accident cases that are suspected of being affected by the disease , has been the creation of the section with all the equipment and allocated to the department just as the existence of air secluded from the rest of the hospital X-Ray , as well as private and special cadre , has been organizing their working hours and assuming the cases , with an emphasis on the application of infection control within the hospital strictly .
And cases of Corona was recorded drilled sub ​​recently and what is going on about the existence of Mnomin hospital denied Zafiri there is no case of sleeping at the hospital at all , and that the only case in which I checked the hospital was getting out was from Jeddah and went to his home , and he has a follow-up and attention to preventive medicine of the Directorate of Health Affairs Bhfralebatn .On the other hand , called the Cooperative Association for livestock in Riyadh and the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to form a team of specialized researchers in the field of viruses and diseases common to humans and animals to stand on the prairie barns and markets camel breeders and shepherds for the analysis of blood and see how the existence of such a virus among camels and humans and whether the virus moved from camels to humans or vice versa , it might be a virus beauty is not transmitted to humans as in pets like cats in America .

The Assembly demanded in a statement on behalf of the President of the Council of the Cooperative Association for livestock in Riyadh , Dr. Saleh bin Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al Shraideh , the Ministry of Health to prove the number of the deceased and their careers and their business are they in contact camel ? Is the origin of the virus is the camel ? Does the Ministry of Agriculture deaths and one death due to the virus camels or not?
 It pointed out in the statement that she had seen what was issued by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture about the accusations directed towards economic wealth taken root depths of the Arabian Peninsula from the long-standing but has been associated with male camels Sahara and its role in the development of local communities and the accusation of camels as a source of virus Corona without carrying out research studies and scientific the laboratory itself on camels and shepherds and educators and is one of her contacts Almjavih facts of reality and leading to interpretations and speculations and opinions that have many negative on the homeland and the citizen .

The Assembly called on the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to stop the permits until the end of the committee formed to prepare the necessary reports , realism and real , due to the lack of successful treatment cures the disease Assembly considers activating the role of preventive and awareness through the media and various liquid . Confirmed its strong commitment to the security and safety of the community through field work and standing with the right support and everything in his power to preserve this heritage of economic and human safety and health. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alyaum.com%2FNews%2F

Minister of Health: containment «Corona» a top priority for the ministry

Tuesday 2014/05/20

Health Minister-designate Adel Faqih

Jeddah - SPA:

Health Minister-designate Adel Faqih that contain the Corona virus that causes respiratory syndrome Middle East comes on top of the priorities of the Ministry of Health.

This came during his speech at the meeting of Ministers of Health of the Middle East countries on the sidelines of the meeting of officials and leaders of the World Health within the framework of the sixty-seventh meeting of the World Health Assembly in Geneva today.

Said Fakih: "The containment of the virus which is what we are working with our partners from international organizations and institutions as well as experts of research and medicine from inside and outside the Kingdom, we also coordinate daily with the World Health Organization to ensure that the exchange of the latest results, information and best practices with all parties concerned with these international efforts ".

He added that the main priorities in the Kingdom is the prevention of infection, where the ministry to establish a center of operations to be the main supporter of the ministry's efforts, in addition to the formation of a medical team for the quick response, and the development of protocols and guidelines updated to prevent infection and control, and to require all health care facilities in the Kingdom to apply strictly .  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alriyadh.com%2Fnews

Confirmed the absence of a recommendation "universal" examines the pilgrims

OH YEAH ..I have something to say about this...

Tuesday 2014/05/20

Confirmed the absence of a recommendation "universal" examines the pilgrims

Deputy Minister of Health: Corona entered a phase of stability

Mohammed Khchim

Riyadh - the earliest Sharif (Photo - Abdullatif Al-Hamdan):

Said Deputy Health Minister for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammed Khchim for "Riyadh" The spread of disease in the Kingdom of Corona entered a phase of stability, while stressing that the ministry is not considering placing the detectors for travelers, whether they are departures or arrivals.

He Khchim for "Riyadh": "There is no recommendation from the World Health Organization examines the pilgrims coming to the Kingdom, and leave the Kingdom does not need it, until the days of swine flu was on with the same context, it was forced Kingdom on early screening, the traveler patient this is another is also subject to examination, but the ordinary traveler difficult examined do not think about it, and we are far from the pandemic. "

And the status of the disease now said Khchim: "put the virus now fixed and you can say that there are signs of improvement, in the sense that there is no increase in cases, and this thing is encouraging now, but do not want to anticipate the event, and we are now very cautious so as not to loosen any of the working groups , and we want the doctors and nurses and practitioners to take full care of, and we continue to do that until we finish them. "

He added: "We have complete information about the disease, and the minister Adel Al Faqih supported the principle of transparency, based on which we give information to the World Health Organization and health companies own that provided from the outside, and let's make a difference many foreign to see specific health status in the Kingdom."

He added: "We are with the World Health Organization in contact permanently, and there were things they advised us out Fmlnaha, and they agreed to 99 per cent of what Nfznah in this regard, and if perhaps they would like to keep awareness of a certain class of people, we welcome them, and for the information of this interest bring in experts, and had a new experience or new information is welcome. "

 

On the other hand, continued for the second day in a row, "Exhibition and Conference Saudi health in 2014," the largest international exhibition for health care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who hosted "Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre" until 21 May, with the participation of over 300 exhibitors from 35 countries from around the world to highlight the current developments and future prospects and promising opportunities available within the Saudi healthcare sector, and highlights the importance of the health care sector in the Kingdom through the products and services that are displayed in the exhibition and conference Saudi health in 2014.

Iqbal on the show

Health Fair this year   http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alriyadh.com%2Fnews

CDC Travel Notice

MERS in the Arabian Peninsula

Warning - Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel

Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions

Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions

Updated: May 19, 2014

What is the Current Situation?

Countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula

View Larger Map

Cases of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) have been identified in multiple countries in the Arabian Peninsula. There have also been cases in several other countries in travelers who have been to the Arabian Peninsula and, in some instances, their close contacts. Two cases have been confirmed in two health care workers living in Saudi Arabia who were visiting the United States. For more information, see CDC’s MERS website.
If you are traveling to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula,* CDC recommends that you pay attention to your health during and after your trip. You should call a doctor right away if you develop fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. Tell the doctor about your recent travel.
CDC does not recommend that travelers change their plans because of MERS. Most instances of person-to-person spread have occurred in health care workers and other close contacts (such as family members and caregivers) of people sick with MERS. If you are concerned about MERS, you should discuss your travel plans with your doctor.

Special advice for people traveling to the Arabian Peninsula to work in health care settings

If you are traveling to provide health care services in the Arabian Peninsula, please review CDC’s recommendations for infection control of confirmed or suspected MERS cases. CDC recommends that you practice these precautions and monitor your health closely.... http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/coronavirus-arabian-peninsula-uk

Canada Travel Health Notice

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Updated: May 15, 2014

Travel Health Notice

Since April 2012, cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been identified in the following countries in the Middle East: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and most recently Yemen and Lebanon.
Cases linked to travel in the Middle East have also been reported in several other countries: France, Italy, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and most recently, in Egypt, Malaysia, Greece, the United States, the Philippines and the Netherlands.
There is growing evidence that direct or indirect contact with camels play a significant role in the virus transmission. Some of the infections have occurred in clusters between individuals in close contact with one another (e.g. within the same household) and an increasing number of infections have occurred among health care workers in health care settings, indicating the importance of following strict infection control practices. This suggests that the virus can spread between humans, however, there has been no sustained person-to-person transmission and the risk of contracting this infection is still considered to be low.... http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/notices-avis/notices-avis-eng.php?id=108

Australian MERS travel bulletin

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

HomeTravel BulletinMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Latest update

This Bulletin was last issued on Friday, 16 May 2014.  

There is ongoing concern about the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in September 2012. Cases of MERS-CoV have been reported in several countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Other countries outside the Middle East have also reported imported cases from returned travellers. All cases have either lived in or travelled to the Middle East, or had close contact with travellers returning from these areas. There have been no cases in Australia to date.

What are the symptoms and who is at risk?

MERS-CoV can cause a rapid onset of severe respiratory illness with a fatality rate of around 40%. There is no vaccine for MERS-CoV. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Some patients have reported a variety of other symptoms, including muscle pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea. Some patients have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. Severe cases have most frequently occurred in people with underlying conditions that may have made them more susceptible to infection (including diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, asthma and lung diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease).

Reducing the risk of exposure

Dromedary camels are suspected to be the source of infection for sporadic cases, but the exact routes of direct or indirect exposure remain unknown. Person-to-person transmission has been documented, particularly in healthcare settings.
The WHO advises that people at potentially higher risk of severe disease due to MERS-CoV should take appropriate precautions when visiting farms, barn areas or market environments where camels are present in MERS-affected countries. Appropriate precautions might include avoiding contact with camels, good hand hygiene, and avoiding drinking raw milk or eating food that may be contaminated with animal secretions or products unless they are properly washed, peeled or cooked.
All travellers should adhere to general hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals, avoiding contact with sick animals, and following food hygiene practices when visiting a farm of barn in MER-CoV affected countries.
Seek immediate medical attention if you feel unwell with symptoms similar to MERS-CoV infection while travelling or on your return to Australia. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider that you have travelled to a region where MERS-CoV is known to occur. Avoid close contact with people who are ill with these symptoms.

Healthcare workers

Many confirmed cases have occurred in healthcare workers. The particular conditions or procedures that lead to transmission in hospital are not well known. However, lapses in infection control are known to be important in increasing the risk of infection in healthcare workers. Therefore, the WHO emphasises the importance of infection control strategies and practices in healthcare in affected countries, not only when caring for suspected MERS-CoV patients but also when caring for patients in all circumstances. See the Australian Department of Health website for information about infection control measures for healthcare workers.

More information

For more information about MERS-CoV, see the following websites:

• Australian Government Department of Health
• World Health Organization
• Saudi Ministry of Healt
• http://smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/MERS 

Two healthy Greene County residents tested for MERS

Two Greene County residents are awaiting test results for the MERS virus that they possibly were exposed to on a flight to Orlando, a top Greene County health official said today.
Kendra Findley, the administrator of community health and epidemiology, said the two had voluntary blood tests as part of a nationwide effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test everyone who was on the flight to Orlando which originated in Saudi Arabia.
"Neither one had symptoms at all so I'm fairly confident that the test results will come back negative," Findley said... http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/05/20/two-healthy-greene-county-residents-tested-mers/2275032/

Najran infected .. "Corona" treated at home under the supervision of "preventive medicine"

 05/21/2014

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At the time that the interaction of the Mtabau social networking sites with news of grace King Khaled Hospital in Najran exit infected with Corona, which was published by the "home" yesterday, asking them to prevent the output infected only after making sure of their recovery, to protect society from the risk of infection. Confirmed that an advisory group of patients Corona is isolated and treated at home under the supervision of Preventive Medicine.

Says the head of departments esoteric and consultant of infectious diseases in Aseer Hospital Dr. Tariq Alozarka for "home," that "the people infected with Corona, and do not exhibit symptoms of the disease are a danger to others while mingling with them, despite the fact that the presence of the virus in their bodies at this stage weak somewhat, but the transmission of infection to others and Ward, although it few, while in contrast, infected with the virus who show symptoms - a high temperature, and was nominated, and nausea - are more dangerous, because the virus in their bodies reached the peak, and breed in large numbers. "

 

He added that "there are actions to take in all the hospitals in the case has been detected on one of the reviewers, and he showed symptoms of" Corona ", where it is certain actions begin to take the swab nasal and annular, and the isolation of the patient by Tnoima in a private room not by others, and ask him to put a muzzle on the nose, and follow the procedures for prevention, as well as giving antibiotics that contribute to the relief of symptoms. "

 

And Dr Alozarka that "there are two kinds of people: First, show signs of a simple show of infection, there are Tnoimam Oazlhm, and taken him to swab the nasal and ringed, and allows him to get out, and ask him to insulation in the house, until the advent of the result, if confirmed infected with the virus, relay in his home by a team of preventive medicine costly health affairs by both his area, the second type: Pkorona infected with chronic diseases, and proving injury after examination, and these are their detention and isolation in the hospital for follow-up treatment. "

 

And the possibility of injury to the patient with the virus again after his recovery, said consultant infectious diseases and internal medicine at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Dr. Hale Abdali, said that "those who have recovered from Coruna would not be safe from injury again, although this possibility is weak.

, The Ministry of Health announced yesterday recording three new infections and Ofatyn, explained a ministry statement that the injured one in Riyadh and the other in Medina, and the third in Taif, The Deceased And one in Riyadh and another in Jeddah, bringing the number of people living to 540 and deaths to 175.

For his part, the minister of health in charge of Engineer Adel bin Mohammed Faqih yesterday a speech to a meeting of ministers from health in the countries of the Middle East, in Geneva, in which he spoke about the efforts and initiatives that have been undertaken in the UK to combat the virus Coruna, said: "The containment of the virus Corona comes a top priority for the Ministry of Health, which is what we are working with our partners from international organizations and institutions, as well as research and medicine experts from within and outside the Kingdom, as we daily coordination with the World Health Organization to ensure that the exchange of the latest results and information.

On the other hand, began monitoring the health center in Jeddah Islamic Port yesterday, to implement its program of health awareness and provided to pilgrims and visitors from various countries across the outlet port.

The director stressed "the health of Jeddah," Dr. Sami Badawoud during the opening program on the need to educate the pilgrims of pilgrims and visitors to the House of God coming through the port of Jeddah Islamic Port and port King Abdulaziz International Airport and how to protect themselves and their companions from the disease. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fakhbaar24.argaam.com%2Farticle%2Fdetail%2F175092%2F%25d9%2586%25d8%25ac%25d8%25b1%25d8%25a7%25d9%2586-%25d9%2585%25d8%25b5%25d8%25a7%25d8%25a8-%25d9%2583%25d9%2588%25d8%25b1%25d9%2588%25d9%2586%25d8%25a7-%25d9%258a%25d8%25b9%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25ac-%25d9%2581%25d9%258a-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d9%2585%25d9%2586%25d8%25b2%25d9%2584-%25d8%25a8%25d8%25a5%25d8%25b4%25d8%25b1%25d8%25a7%25d9%2581-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25b7%25d8%25a8-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d9%2588%25d9%2582%25d8%25a7%25d8%25a6%25d9%258a

Coronavirus patient discharged at his own risk

NAJRAN: Arab News

Published — Tuesday 20 May 2014

 Najran’s Health Affairs caused controversy among local residents when it allowed a coronavirus patient to be discharged from King Khalid Hospital.
Saleh Al-Munis, Najran’s Health Affairs director, said in a statement that the patient, a 65-year-old man, was in stable condition and left the hospital after claiming he had an appointment at King Fahad Medical City.
Muhsin Al-Rabian, Health Affairs spokesman, confirmed that the patient was stable when he left the hospital.
The debate about whether the coronavirus is transmissible from human to human or from camels is still going on.
Investigations were conducted after 23 camels recently died in Hail. The Agriculture Ministry had ascertained their cause of death to be due to poison and not the coronavirus.
Salman Al-Sweineh, Hail Agricultural Affairs director, said a team of vets had been formed to take samples from the cadavers and the fodder used to feed the animals.
The owner is being questioned over the incident.
Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada and Holland have recently registered coronavirus cases. Most of the patients diagnosed in these countries had recently traveled from the Kingdom.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that the coronavirus is not considered a global emergency due to lack of sufficient knowledge about its origins and mode of transmission. http://www.arabnews.com/news/573666