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

WHO Press Statement Related to the Novel Coronavirus Situation

12 May 2013

The emergence of this new coronavirus is globally recognized as an important and major challenge for all of the countries which have been affected as well as the rest of the world. The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recognized this and invited the World Health Organization (WHO) to help them assess the situation and to provide guidance and recommendations. WHO is pleased to be here to work together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

At this time there are some things about this new disease we understand. However I would like to remind everyone that this is a new infection and there are also many gaps in our knowledge that will inevitably take time to fill in.

We know that the disease is caused by a virus from a group called coronaviruses. One member of the coronavirus family is the SARs virus. This new virus is NOT the SARS virus. They are distinct from each other. However, the fact that they are related has added to the world’s concern. We know this virus has infected people since 2012, but we don’t know where this virus lives. We know that when people get infected, many of them develop severe pneumonia. What we don’t know is how often people might develop mild disease. We also know that most of the persons who have been infected so far have been older men, often with other medical conditions. We are not sure why we are seeing this pattern and if it will change over time.

There are many other things that we don’t understand. For example, how are people getting infected? Is it from animals? Is it from contaminated surfaces? Is it from other people? Finally, we don’t know how widespread is this virus, both in this region and in other countries.

The greatest global concern, however, is about the potential for this new virus to spread. This is partly because the virus has already caused severe disease in multiple countries, although in small numbers, and has persisted in the region since 2012. Of most concern, however, is the fact that the different clusters seen in multiple countries increasingly support the hypothesis that when there is close contact this novel coronavirus can transmit from person-to-person. This pattern of person-to- person transmission has remained limited to some small clusters and so far, there is no evidence that this virus has the capacity to sustain generalized transmission in communities.

At this point, several urgent actions are needed. The most important ones are the need for countries, both inside and outside of the region, to increase their levels of awareness among all people but especially among staff working in their health systems and to increase their levels of surveillance about this new infection. In Saudi Arabia, 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 WHO as required by the International Health Regulations because this is the basis for effective international alertness, preparedness and response. Countries also need to assess their level of preparedness and readiness if this virus should spread and to intensify strengthening the core capacities identified in the International Health Regulations if they are not adequate. WHO is ready to assist countries in this region and globaly in these tasks.

There are also some questions that urgently need to be answered including how are people are getting infected, and what are the main risk factors for either infection or development of severe disease. The answers to these questions hold the keys to preventing infection.

In closing, we want to note that the Government of Saudi Arabia has taken the novel coronavirus situation very seriously. The Ministry of Health has initiated crucial public health actions -- including intensifying surveillance, initiating investigations and important research and putting control 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 and lab capacities and network.

For more information contact

Gregory Härtl
WHO Media Coordinator
Department of Communications
WHO, Geneva
Mobile: +41 79 203 6715
E-mail: hartlg@who.int  http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2013/Novel_Coronavirus_12052013/en/index.html

201 people under surveillance

Health Two patients identified, their entourage followed closely. Coronavirus: 201 people under surveillance

104 viewsPosted 12/05/2013 at 22:52

Identified by the Institut de Veille Sanitaire, potential patients were contacted. The Minister Marisol Touraine, said that we should not "cause concern".

Minister Marisol Touraine said yesterday at a press conference that he was not to alarm the population. Photo AFP

All persons who have been in contact with the two patients with the new coronavirus are subject to "close supervision of health authorities." That, in essence, what was stated yesterday during a press conference, Marisol Touraine.

Three investigations

However, the Minister of Health wanted to reassure: "Professionals, doctors consider that there is no need to be overly concerned."

In fact, 201 people were identified by the Institute of Health: 124 people in contact with the first patient, 38 people in contact with the second, mainly around her, and 39 people who participated in the trip to Dubai in which the first patient has been achieved. They are French or Belgian. Thus, three surveys are being conducted ... The Executive Director of the Institute of Health, Françoise Weber, said he was recommended to follow all hygiene measures and wear a mask if they experience flu-like symptoms . 38 people in prolonged contact with the second patient even been instructed to stay at home.

However, the minister assured the "total mobilization of public authorities." But "there is no alarm, to cause concern," she concluded. François Bricaire, Head of Infectious Diseases at the Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, agreed in its meaning: "We must be vigilant, but not more, and we should not be worried about it." But he still said: "Even if it's for people, something severe, with no significant mortality." Indeed, in 34 cases in the world reported coronavirus World Health Organization, 18 died, including 15 in Saudi Arabia. Professor of Parasitology at the Cochin Hospital, Patrice Bourée slice: "It is still known for almost eight months and it was so bad as that, there would be more deaths. [...] We can not consider that today it is a virus that will spread very quickly and will reach many people, otherwise it would already be done.
"http://www.leprogres.fr/sante/2013/05/12/coronavirus-201-personnes-sous-surveillance

Coronavirus: the government wants to reassure

this story don't tell you ,dude went home for 9 days after becoming infected at the hospital.

Created 12-05-2013 7:41 p.m.

http://www.metrofrance.com/info/coronavirus-le-gouvernement-veut-rassurer/mmel!ccmoolSN4TN4g/

Marisol Touraine called for calm. Photo: Baziz CHIBANE / SIPA

VIRUS - The health status of the second infected with coronavirus in France patient worsened Sunday. The Minister of Health assured that health authorities were "a very vigilant" while warning that should not fall prey to "excessive worry".

Coronavirus: the second patient went home for nine days before tested(VIDEO)

The second positive case went home for nine days after leaving the hospital Valenciennes on April 30, so he rubbed a lot of people around him before he came to CHR Lille. ..This was given in the early evening Dr. Guery , forcing InVS investigate circle of acquaintances who shared the room of the first infected patient 27 to 29 April. The second patient was discharged the next day, April 30, so he spent nine days at home . Nine days "in nature."

For now, InVS spotted 38 people around him . Among this group, there are "a few very close and prolonged close contact" with the second patient, whose health authorities have recommended to stay at home. The director of the institute, Françoise Weber, said that they were recommended to follow hygiene measures and wear a mask if they experience flu symptoms. These 38 people will be contacted every day to see if they report symptoms...  

http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/region/coronavirus-le-deuxieme-malade-a-passe-neuf-jours-ia0b0n1244775

Coronavirus: the state of the second patient worsens

12-05-2013 5:45 p.m.

HEALTH - The health status of the second patient infected with coronavirus worsened Sunday. He had been contaminated after roommates first patient diagnosed, confirming the possible transmission of the virus between humans.

The second French ill affected by the new coronavirus has seen his health worsen Sunday. It had to be transferred to intensive care at mid-day, announced the Regional University Hospital Centre of Lille (CHU). The patient has more difficulty breathing because "its oxygen requirements have worsened," he told AFP a spokesman for the University Hospital, noting that he was not at this stage under respiratory assistance, the inverse of the first patient. A clinical assessment will be conducted on arrival in the ICU.

He is also the subject of an antibiotic administered "fairly aggressive", according to Professor Benoit Guery, the Infectious Diseases department of the hospital. The patient shared room for 4 days the first carrier of the virus detected in France , a man who traveled to Dubai, while respiratory disease had not yet been detected.... http://www.metrofrance.com/info/coronavirus-le-deuxieme-malade-transfere-en-reanimation/mmel!OL2Aw5kj3tIHU/

162 people under surveillance

Relatives of two patients under surveillance coronavirus

Created on 12/05/2013

This represents at least 162 people ...

People who have been in contact with the two patients with the novel coronavirus are subject to close monitoring by health authorities, Marisol Touraine said Sunday at a press conference at the headquarters of the Institute of Health Surveillance ( VS) in Saint-Maurice, near Paris. But "professionals, doctors consider that there is no need to have a concern Excessiv e, she added.

"Three investigations are being conducted by InVS on persons associated with the first patient, the second victim to Lille and also people who participated in the tour in the Arabian Peninsula in which the first patient was achieved, "she said.

Hygiene measures

124 people in contact with the first patient were identified and contacted, said the minister. This component of the investigations conducted by InVS is "basically completed," said the Director General of the Institute, Françoise Weber. For the second positive cases, 38 people, "mostly around her," have been identified and subsequently contacted by InVS. Ms. Weber said that they were recommended to follow hygiene measures and wear a mask if they experience flu symptoms. These 38 people will be contacted every day to see if they report symptoms.

Any contact with animals?

Among this group, there are "a few very close and prolonged close contact" with the second patient, whose health authorities have recommended to stay at home. In addition, 39 persons of French or Belgian nationality who participated from 9 to 17 April trip to the United Arab Emirates attended by the first patient were contacted and also monitored from the InVs . There is no particular concern among this group, because none expressed symptoms nCoV. Given the incubation period, they should already have symptoms if they were infected, said Dr. Weber.

InVS also conducting an investigation with the help of this group of travelers to know when the first French patient has been in contact with animals carrying the nCoV. It is believed that the reservoir of the virus - diagnosed in 34 people worldwide, including more than half died - is in animals, Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries. One hypothesis is that it would come to bat.

 French video http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/1153479-20130512-proches-deux-malades-coronavirus-sous-surveillance