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.
