Update on Global Situation of Severe Respiratory Disease associated
with Novel Coronavirus
3 December 2012
Dear Doctor,
Further to our letter to you dated 26 November, 2012, we would like to
update you with the latest development on severe respiratory disease associated
with novel coronavirus. As of 30 November, the World Health Organization
(WHO) has reported nine confirmed cases of human infection with novel
coronavirus from Qatar (two cases), Saudi Arabia (five cases) and Jordan (two
cases).
All patients were severely ill and five of them died.
According to WHO, the two Qatari patients are not linked. Both had
severe pneumonia and acute renal failure. Both are now recovering. A total of
five confirmed cases have been reported from Saudi Arabia. The first two are not
linked to each other; one of them died. Three other confirmed cases are
epidemiologically linked and occurred in one family living within the same
household; two of them died. One additional family member in this household
also developed symptoms similar to those of the confirmed cases. This person
has recovered and was tested negative for the virus.
In addition, two confirmed cases have been reported in Jordan. Both of
them died. These cases were discovered through testing of stored samples from a
cluster of pneumonia cases that occurred in April 2012.
The two clusters from Saudi Arabia and Jordan raise the possibility of
limited human-to-human transmission or, alternatively, exposure to a common
source. Ongoing investigation is underway to distinguish between these
possibilities.
According to WHO, the current understanding of this novel virus is that
it can cause a severe, acute respiratory infection presenting as pneumonia. - 2 -
Acute renal failure has also occurred in five cases.
In view of the latest development, please consider testing for novel
coronavirus for unexplained pneumonia after exclusion of common causative
agents, regardless of the travel history. Laboratory testing of novel coronavirus is
available in Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) of the Centre for Health
Protection (CHP) and please contact the Virology Division of PHLC for
necessary arrangement.
We understand that WHO is currently reviewing the case definition and
other guidance related to the novel coronavirus. While the existing reporting
criteria remains unchanged, please kindly be informed that we have included
Jordan as one of the affected areas
(http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/novel_coronavirus_affected_areas.pdf).
To
detect suspected cases early, medical practitioners are reminded to notify the
Department of Health any suspected cases of severe respiratory disease
associated with novel coronavirus fulfilling the reporting criteria
(https://chpceno.chp.gov.hk/casedef/casedef.pdf) to the Central Notification
Office (CENO) of CHP via fax (2477 2770), phone (2477 2772) or CENO
On-line (http://ceno.chp.gov.hk/). Please also call our Medical Control Officer at
7116 3300 a/c 9179 outside office hour for prompt investigation.
CHP is closely communicating with WHO and relevant overseas health
authorities to obtain more information about the recently confirmed cases and
will update you with the latest information.
Thank you for your ongoing support in combating communicable
diseases.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. S K Chuang)
for Controller, Centre for Health Protection
Department of Health
