MERS-CoV vigilance rises in US

[dothedd]

Mers coronavirus outbreaks: WHO offers help 

Asma Ali Zain / 25 April 2014

The assistance is to determine transmission chain and risks

The WHO has offered to send international expertise to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to investigate the current outbreaks of Mers-CoV.

The world health body said it was unaware, at this point in time, of the specific types of exposure in the health care facilities that have resulted in transmission of these infections, but said that this remains a concern.

Employees wear masks as they stand outside a hospital’s emergency department in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has seen the most number of Mers cases this year. — AFP

The assistance is being given in order to determine the transmission chain of the recent clusters and whether there is any evolving risk that may be associated with the current transmissibility pattern of the virus, said the regional World Health Organisation (WHO) office in a statement on Wednesday.

The WHO also expressed concern over the rising number of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (coronavirus) in both the countries in the recent weeks, especially in health facilities.

It asked all countries to remain vigilant and enhance surveillance to detect any early sign that the virus has changed and has attained the possibilities of causing sustained person-to-person transmission.

WHO expects that it is only through an enhanced coordinated effort the mystery and the risk to global health associated with the emergence of this virus can be unraveled, read the statement.

“Approximately 75 per cent of the recently reported cases are secondary cases, meaning that they are considered to have acquired the infection from another case through human-to-human transmission,” Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean said.

“Majority of these secondary cases have been infected within the healthcare setting and 
are mainly healthcare workers although several patients are also considered to have been infected with MERS-CoV while in hospital for other reasons,” he added.

Although majority of the cases had either none or only minor symptoms, and most do not 
continue to spread the virus, WHO acknowledges that some critical information gaps remain to better understand the transmission of the virus as well as the route of infection, said the statement.

In a statement to Khaleej Times earlier this week, WHO said there were no plans to place any curbs on international travel. Since the emergence of Mers in April 2012, a total of 253 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infections with Mers have been reported to WHO, including 93 deaths. The source and mode of infection for the virus remain undetermined.

Several recent cases of people becoming infected in either Saudi Arabia or UAE and travelling to other countries have also been reported. Greece, Jordan, Malaysia, and the Philippines each reported one such case last week.

[dothedd]

Haad announces 8 more cases of Mers coronavirus tested negative 

(Wam) / 26 April 2014 

Haad said that these 8 cases were confirmed positive through routine screening of contacts, and were kept in isolation at hospitals as a precautionary measure.

The Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (Haad) announced that 8 more cases in isolation in hospital with Mers coronavirus (MERS-CoV), have tested negative for the virus, and will be leaving hospital soon. With this, the number of negative tested individuals rises to 18.

Haad said that “these 8 cases were confirmed positive through routine screening of contacts, and were kept in isolation at hospitals as a precautionary measure. They were able to clear the virus within 10 -14 days themselves without any treatment.”

It is expected that the other individuals with positive Mers coronavirus currently in isolation in hospitals will likewise soon test negative and be able to go home. They are being tested daily to check on their positive status.

Haad also announced 7 new cases with Mers-CoV. Most of them have either no symptoms or mild symptoms, and are expected to clear virus soon. They have been admitted to hospital for isolation until they clear the virus.

Haad confirmed that “it is coordinating with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other authorities in the country, and has taken all necessary measures as per international standards and recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

The MoH stated that the WHO confirmed the virus is not a concern for public health at the moment, and that the current situation does not require a travel ban to any country in the world, screenings at different ports, or any restrictions on trade.

The MoH confirmed that “it is monitoring the situation closely to ensure the health and safety of everyone.”

www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?section=nationhealth&xfile=/data/nationhealth/2014/april/nationhealth_april58.xml

[dothedd]

This Week in Medical News: MERS Back With a Vengeance
Published: Apr 26, 2014

Last update 26 April 2014 2:09 am
MERS control measures launched


The Health Ministry launched infection control measures and an awareness campaign here on Thursday to tackle the rising number of deaths caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus.

The ministry also provided training for city health workers to deal with the virus at a symposium here.

Officials highlighted ongoing action to analyze how the disease spreads, and discussed using antibiotics to raise the immunity of patients.

A plan is being developed to spread awareness about MERS across the city and through the mass media.

Sami Badawood, director of the Jeddah health department, instructed all health workers to sterilize patient rooms, emergency wards, and medical equipment at hospitals.
Senior doctors Jihad Fadal Bukhari, Naser Al-Jahani and others spoke about preventive measures at the symposium.

Earlier, Muneera Balahmar, a community medicine consultant with the ministry in Jeddah, told Arab News that the program would be run in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.

She said the ministry has chosen the Indian Social Forum, a local expatriate body, to conduct the awareness program in the Indian community.

The ministry has already launched its awareness program at schools in Jeddah, said Badawood, which included distributing literature on the virus.

Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director general of the Ministry of Education, said there have been no infections recorded among schoolchildren in Jeddah.

He said the awareness program would allay fears and ensure students adopt better personal hygiene.

Some Saudi citizens are avoiding going to hospitals because they are afraid of becoming infected.

Faras Osama Bana, a Saudi, told Arab News he was sick for two days but did not want to go to a hospital because he was afraid of MERS.

Mohammed Shami Jafri, another Saudi, said he did the same thing when he fell ill.

[dothedd]

Schools urged to cancel field trip...

Last update 26 April 2014 2:10 am

Schools should cancel field trips because of the danger that students might become infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, a doctor said here recently.
“I would not suggest that schools take students out on field trips now in light of the coronavirus outbreak because it is not safe at all,” said M.S. Karimuddin, head of the pediatrics department at New Jeddah Clinic.

“The school atmosphere is different. If a child is not well, he will not be allowed to go to school so that the infection does not spread. But anywhere in the field, including malls and crowded places, there is no control and must be strictly avoided.” Karimuddin said that only one child has been affected by MERS so far.

He said schools should inform parents to have their children checked out if they are coughing in an unusual manner or even having a casual cough.

“This is because the initial symptoms are the same as the common cold, so you never know if you have the spreading coronavirus or just the common cold. Prevention is always better than cure.”

He endorsed remarks made last week by Sami Badawood, director of Jeddah's health department, that schoolchildren should keep safe by maintaining proper hygiene and keeping away from crowded areas.

He said citizens and residents should also believe Badawood when he says that there are no cases of MERS infections at Jeddah schools. “It is always better to pay attention to the officials,” said Karimuddin. “They are responsible and working hard to prevent the virus from spreading. It is our duty to believe the authorities of the country we are living in.”
“If the authorities say there is no harm in sending children to school, we must believe them because they probably have the situation under control, and especially because the coronavirus has been around for about two years now,” he said.

“On the other hand, if parents wish to keep their children away from school due to their fears over MERS, schools should not be hard on them by being strict about applying absenteeism rules, because I believe parents have the right to protect their children,” said Karimuddin.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has denied that it closed schools after the recent outbreak, and stated that there are no coronavirus cases among students.

In a recent report, Maun Nizar Feteih, a Jeddah-based consultant pulmonologist, said it was normal for people to panic because there has been a high mortality rate with the latest outbreak.

“People get the flu and then in five or six days they're on a ventilator. Even as healthcare workers, we panic because we see colleagues - doctors and nurses we work with - who are suddenly in intensive care. But I think things are moving in a positive direction," Feteih said.
He said the Saudi authorities have worked to educate health workers and patients about prevention and collaborated with hospitals to isolate suspected and confirmed cases.

[dothedd]

Last update 26 April 2014 1:42 am

Saudi authorities reported 12 new MERS cases on Thursday, including two fatalities, as Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih appointed Dr. Tariq Ahmed Madani of King Abdulaziz University Hospital as his new medical adviser to combat the deadly diseases.

Fakeih, who is also the Labor Minister, also ordered the transfer of coronavirus cases to King Saud Hospital in north Jeddah.

According to the Health Ministry, Jeddah has recorded the largest number of infections (6) by the deadly coronavirus followed by Riyadh (five) and Makkah (one). A 68-year-old Saudi man died in Makkah, said the ministry statement. The other fatality, a 72-year-old Saudi woman, was in Riyadh.

Of the new infection cases in Jeddah, a 51-year-old Syrian doctor is in the ICU of King Fahd Hospital and a 28-year-old Indonesian woman is in King Saud Hospital. Other Jeddah cases were: Two Palestinians, an Egyptian and a Saudi national.

The cases in Riyadh include a 40-year-old Filipino nurse in addition to four Saudi nationals. A 34-year-old Filipino nurse, who was working at the ICU of Al-Noor Hospital in Makkah, is the only infection case in the holy city.

Officials are struggling to alleviate concerns that the virus is spreading amid a spike in infections over the past several weeks.

National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah advanced his visit to Jeddah to lead the campaign against the disease.
Speaking about the king’s concern toward his citizens, Prince Miteb said: “When the rift valley fever hit Jazan, King Abdullah cut short his visit to France and flew to Jazan to oversee the efforts to fight the disease.”

Minister Fakeih has set up two committees in the last 24 hours to consider the request of King Saud Hospital not to receive cases due to lack of isolation rooms, lack of enough medical and nursing staff to deal with number of these cases, as well as a shortage of beds at the hospital.
The hospital has 85 beds, including 25 in intensive care and 15 for deportation cases, leaving only 45 beds to accommodate other cases received by the hospital, such as tuberculosis, AIDS, dengue fever, and others.

Following reports of coronavirus found in camels from African markets, Saudi businessmen said they are exploring possibility of importing livestock from non-African sources.
Jeddah businessmen have urged Uruguay Foreign Minister Luis Almagro to sign an agreement with the Saudi Agricultural Ministry for the import of livestock and frozen meat directly to the Kingdom.

Fahd Al-Sulami, a member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said livestock traders have expressed their desire to diversify import sources in order to avoid disease-carrying cattle.

CONTINUED:

www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/galleryformatter_slide/MERS-3_0.jpg

[dothedd]

QUOTES: 

"Dr. Shahid Azhar • a day ago
“SAVE YOURS AND YOUR LOVEONES LIFE”

To avoid further fatalities and spread of MERS-CoV virus, following actions should
be taken immediately instead of waiting for WHO experts.

1). Close all Schools, Colleges and Universities in the Kingdom
for early summer vacation.

2) Make mandatory of wearing masks and use of hand sanitizers in
every organization.

3). Give flexibility of working hours for those who feel sick.

4. Designate some clinics outside the city to quarantine the
infected people. These clinics staff should be well trained to handle
quarantine facility. After transfer of patients to these clinics, Fumigation
should be done of all the Hospitals completely to disinfect the hospitals.

5. Restrict selling of camel meat in the marketplace until all the infected livestock is completely screened out.

6. Restrict the people commuting between the cities and farms trips for leisure until the virus is fully contained."


"Jeddah citizen • a day ago
I don't believe the estimate of death toll is correct. I personally heard of 3 deaths of acquaintances I know of that tragically passed away in Jeddah and none of them had be reported. My question lays is when will they start realizing how serious this situation is and start closing down schools and taking higher precautions"

"Ahmad Abdullah • 18 hours ago
This article makes no sense it contradicts its self. ARAB news writer needs to be replaced."

"maheswaran balaraman • 21 hours ago
'Coronavirus found in camels imported from African market'. How relevant or important is this information in fighting fear among our citizens of in the fight against the virus itself. When will we stop pushing the responsibility to others? Can we focus our energy in fighting the MERS infection and calming people's nerves rather than introduce one more fear factor without any supporting evidence. Irresponsible on the part of arab news."

"Staff nurse • 11 hours ago
I think the # of fatalities in al noor hospital is in correct!"


Mohammed Shuaib • 6 hours ago
Why is dengue fever highlighted when along with other chronic, serious illnesses?

"Here in Sri Lanka, dengue patients are managed in general wards. There is really no need for specialised care or extended duration of stay for those suffering from dengue."

"Schellinck • 11 hours ago
Wouldn'it be better for Saudi Arabia to spend the colossal sums on the military instead for scientific and health purposes? When will the debate on military expenditure become public in your country, the sixth largest country in terms of defense budgets ?"

"Mic Bourne • 18 hours ago
no news block out with regards to MERS virus please... so that the public is aware of this ..."

"WHAT'S THIS?
ALSO ON ARABNEWS
2 more deaths from MERS virus"

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

DTDD, 

Sounds like international travel could be at risk fairly soon. Thanks for keeping us informed!

God bless,

[dothedd]

Greetings, Aham...

That's what I am here for is to keep ProBoards informed about world virus threats.  There is word on the street that the Saudi's are looking at Novavax to build a facility ... The Saudi's can certainly afford to do whatever is necessary to save their economy. Anyhow, the next few months are going to be interesting, and when the weather turns cold AGAIN ... even more interesting. 

I was over reading some of your threads the last couple of days ... I must say you do have a handle on the world -- THANK YOU FOR SHARING!


   


barb

[dothedd]

Apr 25, 2014 22:50:46 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

DTDD, 

Sounds like international travel could be at risk fairly soon. Thanks for keeping us informed!

God bless,

GREETINGS AHAM... 

Keeping ProBoards informed is what I am here for, as well as, adding to my file cabinet for quick recall!

Major storms moving into my area  from the SouthWEST!  Should just about be over Bruce by now.  Anyhow, stocking my storm shelter today.

You have Google mail. 

[dothedd]

CAIRO Sat Apr 26, 2014

(Reuters) - Egypt has discovered its first case of the potentially deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in an Egyptian citizen who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, Egypt's Ministry of Health said on Saturday."

So now MERS is in Africa which is already struggling with the Ebola virus. Hopefully the MERS virus will die out in May like it did last year. The fact is, although MERS has been around for decades in camels, it's only been a little over 2 years since it jumped to humans, so nobody really knows what to expect with Wave 2 or Wave 3 of the MERS virus. Although a mutation in the MERS virus has yet to be detected, the growing numbers of cases, especially among healthcare workers has gotten the worlds attention.

[dothedd]

Deema Almashabi, BloombergPublished: April 27, 2014

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has set up three centres to treat and isolate patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome as the number of infected cases climbed to 323.

The facilities are located at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh, King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah, and Dammam Medical Complex in the Eastern Province, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday, citing acting Health Minister Adel Faqih. More centres will be opened in other parts of the country.

“This step comes as part of an emergency plan aiming to contain the spread of the virus,” said Faqih, according to Saudi Press Agency.

At least 94 people in the kingdom have died from Mers since it emerged in September 2012, according to the Saudi Ministry of Health. The US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says the viral respiratory illness can be spread between people in close contact and has also been found in camels.
Egypt reported its first case of Mers on Saturday through state-run news agency Ahram Gate. It said an Egyptian man was admitted to hospital after arriving from Riyadh, where he had been living for four years."

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Thank you for the kind words Barb, much appreciated! It's nice to have good friends. No..



I was going to post about the Saudi camps, but I see you have noticed that already... Interesting that NVAX could be called into help. Lots of big news cycles seem to be gearing up over NVAX..

It would seem that domestic travel is about to be restricted in a big way in the Mid East, especially because they are having an issue wit polio breaking out...

Won't take but a few more cases of MERS spreading outside the Mid East before international travel will be under fire.

God bless.

[dothedd]

Saudi Arabia has 26 more cases of MERS virus, 10 dead (Reuters)

RIYADH Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:46am IST

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia confirmed 26 more cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed nearly a third of sufferers, and said 10 more people have died from the disease.

The confirmations follow Egypt's announcement on Saturday that it had confirmed its first case of MERS in a man who had recently returned to the country from Riyadh, where he was working.

Saudi Arabia, where MERS was discovered around two years ago and which remains the country most affected, has now had 339 confirmed cases of MERS, of which 102 have been fatal.

The 143 cases announced since the start of April represent a 73 percent jump in total infections in Saudi Arabia this month.

The new cases were announced in two statements published on the Health Ministry website on Saturday and Sunday.

The 10 confirmed on Saturday included seven in Jeddah, the focal point for the recent outbreak, two in the capital Riyadh and another in Mecca. Two MERS patients died.

The 16 further cases confirmed on Sunday included two in Riyadh, eight in Jeddah and another six in the northern city of Tabuk. Eight MERS sufferers died on Sunday.

The acting health minister, Adel Fakieh, said on Saturday he had designated three hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on the Gulf coast as specialist centres for MERS treatment.

The three hospitals can accommodate 146 patients in intensive care, he said in comments carried by local press on Sunday.

Many Saudis have voiced concerns on social media about government handling of the outbreak, and last week King Abdullah sacked the health minister.

In Jeddah, some people are wearing facemasks and avoiding public gatherings, while pharmacies say sales of hand sanitisers and other hygiene products are soaring.

[dothedd]

SARS-Like MERS Virus Spreads to New Countries 

April 27, 2014

Cases of the MERS Coronavirus have significantly increased in the last few months, and in recent weeks there have been reports of the virus in new countries including Egypt, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, leaving officials struggling to figure out why infections have increased.

See How The MERS Coronavirus Affects the Body

The MERS Coronavirus, which stands for Middle Eastern Respiratory Coronavirus, was first identified in late 2012 and causes acute respiratory illness, shortness of breath and in severe cases kidney failure. The virus is related to the SARS virus and the common cold.

There have been 350 cases and more than 100 deaths reported worldwide from the virus, although the World Health Organization (WHO) has laboratory-confirmed only 254 cases with 93 deaths. Most of the reported infections have come from Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

While public health experts have been tracking the disease for nearly two years, in recent weeks health officials are reporting a sharp rise in cases. The WHO reported at least 78 confirmed cases since the beginning of the year, and that diagnosed cases sharply increased in mid-March.

This week the WHO released a report, which said that among newly diagnosed cases up to 75 percent could be human-to-human transmission, since a large number of health workers were infected with the disease. However there is evidence that the reason for the increase could be related to increased testing for the virus and a seasonal increase in the disease rather than virus mutation.

Dr. Ian Lipkin, an epidemiologist and professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, has been investigating the virus and said 75 percent of camels in Saudi Arabia have had the disease. Lipkin points out that as camels are born in the spring the virus can spread from the young animals to people who interact with them.

"The younger animals have the virus and become infected and become little virus factories," said Lipkin, who explained that camels are extremely common in Saudi Arabia and surrounding countries.

"It's almost like dogs in the U.S. Except they eat the camels ... there's so much opportunity," for the virus to spread, he said.

Lipkin also pointed out that when patients are treated with invasive pulmonary measures, the virus "deep in the lungs" can come to the surface and infect health care workers treating these patients. Lipkin said to combat the spread, more oversight will be needed to both regulate people's interactions with camels and to protect healthcare workers from infection.

Currently there is no vaccine for the MERS Coronavirus. There have been no reported cases in the U.S. and the CDC has not issued any travel advisories related to the disease.

[dothedd]

CORONAVIRUS

A MUST READ LINK!

abcnews.go.com/Health/fullpage/mers-coronavirus-infographic-abcnews-19315579

[dothedd]

Saudi MOH: Three Hospitals Assigned As MERS Treatment Centers
Gettin' more interesting every day:

Saturday 04/26/2014

King Abdullah Medical Center in Jeddah – www.moh.gov.sa

Jeddah - SPA: Health Minister-designate Adel Fakih, today announced the allocation of three medical centers in Riyadh, Jeddah and the eastern region, as centers specialized to cope with the virus, "Corona" in the Kingdom, within the ministry's plan urgent to contain the current situation concerning the syndrome Middle East respiratory "Corona."

The jurist in a press release today, that complex of King Abdullah Medical Center in Jeddah will be the main center of Coruna, because of the potential medical enjoyed by the center, and to its inclusion of modern equipment in addition to the hospital, Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz in Riyadh, and a complex Dammam Medical Center in the eastern region.

He added, "This step comes as part of the emergency plan designed to contain the spread of the virus and will be followed, God willing, a number of medical procedures preventive and curative, where will these centers play an active role in our plan to counter the virus Corona," as HE stressed that the ministry was considering all possible options to address this the challenge of public health.

And contain medical complexes that have been allocated as centers specialized Corona to 146 beds for intensive care, and all of these complexes equipped rooms isolate equipped with the latest hardware necessary medical and laboratory laboratory as well as outpatient clinics, and will be announced later for specialized medical centers for Corona in other parts of the Kingdom.

[Deleted]

Makes me think twice about traveling anywhere.

[dothedd]

Apr 27, 2014 22:25:25 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Makes me think twice about traveling anywhere.

Home Sweet Home for me too!

I have a friend who left for "that area" on the 22nd.  I told her she was an idiot!     

"We’re in NYC now … leaving on Emirates airline tonight … first to Dubai, then transfer to Tehran.

With a small group, Iranian guide and driver, and a US college professor to lend some credibility, it would seem!

Be back on May 13, real late in Chi …"

[Deleted]

The last flight we took, I noticed more people wearing surgical masks. If things keep going in this direction, and I think it will, we will all be wearing them. Just wish they could come out with some cute looking ones. I want butterflies on mine. 

[dothedd]

Lonewolf, and the bad news is we all might be wearing them very soon! 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today that the first case of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome has been confirmed in the United States, in what officials are calling "a rapidly evolving situation."

CDC officials are investigating with health officials in Indiana.

On a phone call with press, the CDC said the infected person was providing healthcare in Saudi Arabia before traveling to Indiana via Riyadh, London, and Chicago. He or she went to the emergency room on April 28 with shortness of breath, coughing, and fever, and is currently on oxygen in an Indiana hospital but in stable condition.

"We do not yet know how the patient became infected or how many people had close contact with the patient," Anne Schuchat, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases said on the call.

The patient is currently isolated, and there are no other suspected cases. The CDC is working with local public health officials to provide guidance to the patient's close contacts, who may be at risk.

"We want to take this very seriously and not assume that it's a minor issue," said Schuchat. "But this represents a very low risk to the broader general public."

Read more: CDC: First US case of deadly virus MERS reported in Indiana

[dothedd]

Above: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Transmission electron micrograph of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus

Please continue to refresh this page, information is being updated and added frequently.

MUNSTER, Ind. (May 2, 2014) — The first U.S. case of MERS-CoV has been reported in Indiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The patient is currently being treated at Community Hospital in Munster.

MERS-CoV, short for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, is a type of coronavirus. The incubation period for MERS is 5 days.

CDC and the Indiana State Department of Heath are conducting a joint investigation of the first case of MERS-CoV in the United States. MERS-CoV, a virus new to humans, was first reported in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012.

The Indiana MERS case brings the total confimed cases worldwide to 401. Twelve countries have reported cases.

The CDC and Indiana health officials say the patient is a health care provider who recently traveled from Saudi Arabia. They are calling the case a “rapidly evolving situation.” The CDC also says they would not be surprised if additional MERS cases are identified. They are approaching the situation with “an abundance of caution.”

The patient flew from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to London, England and then to Chicago on April 24. From Chicago the patient took a bus to Indiana. On the 27th, the patient began to experience respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, and fever. The patient went to an emergency department in an Indiana hospital on April 28th and was admitted on that same day. The patient is being well cared for and is isolated.

Community Hospital in Munster has contacted all high-risk individuals. In an abundance of caution, individuals who visited the Emergency Department (ED) of Community Hospital in Munster between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on April 28, 2014 should watch for signs and symptoms.

If you visited the ED during this time and begin experiencing symptoms, please call your healthcare provider and let them know about your possible exposure to MERS-CoV.

The patient is in the hospital in stable condition and requires oxygen.

“We’ve anticipated MERS reaching the US, and we’ve prepared for and are taking swift action,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “We’re doing everything possible with hospital, local, and state health officials to find people who may have had contact with this person so they can be evaluated as appropriate. This case reminds us that we are all connected by the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. We can break the chain of transmission in this case through focused efforts here and abroad.”

Since the first documented cases in spring 2012, MERS has sickened at least 339 people in Saudi Arabia alone and killed nearly a third of them, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

“It is understandable that some may be concerned about this situation, but this first U.S. case of MERS-CoV infection represents a very low risk to the general public,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. In some countries, the virus has spread from person to person through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is currently no evidence of sustained spread of MERS-CoV in community settings.

Federal, state, and local health officials are taking action to minimize the risk of spread of the virus. The Indiana hospital is using full precautions to avoid exposure within the hospital and among healthcare professionals and other people interacting with the patient, as recommended by CDC.

This story is developing. Check back for details.

Q&A about MERS from the CDC:

Q: What is MERS?

A: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness. MERS is caused by a coronavirus called “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV).

Q: What is MERS-CoV?

A: MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV used to be called “novel coronavirus,” or “nCoV”. It is different from other coronaviruses that have been found in people before.

Q: Is MERS-CoV the same as the SARS virus?

A: No. MERS-CoV is not the same coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. However, like the SARS virus, MERS-CoV is most similar to coronaviruses found in bats. CDC is still learning about MERS.

Q: What are the symptoms of MERS?

A: Most people who got infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About half of them died. Some people were reported as having a mild respiratory illness.

Q: Does MERS-CoV spread from person to person?

A: MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact.[1] Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed. Clusters of cases in several countries are being investigated.

Q: How can I help protect myself?

A: CDC advises that people follow these tips to help prevent respiratory illnesses:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact, such as kissing, sharing cups, or sharing eating utensils, with sick people.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
Q: Is there a vaccine?

A: No, but CDC is discussing with partners the possibility of developing one.

Q: What are the treatments?

A: There are no specific treatments recommended for illnesses caused by MERS-CoV. Medical care is supportive and to help relieve symptoms.



Read more: fox59.com/2014/05/02/first-us-case-of-mers-reported-in-indiana/#ixzz30ankuLJO
Read more at fox59.com/2014/05/02/first-us-case-of-mers-reported-in-indiana/#XM2iKmiMxRRHHdrV.99


Munster is a town located in North Township, Lake County, in Northwest Indiana, United States. This bedroom community lies in the Chicago metropolitan area, approximately 30 miles (48 km) southeast of the Chicago Loop, and shares municipal boundaries with Hammond to the north, Highland to the east, Dyer and Schererville to the south and Lansing and Lynwood directly west of the Illinois border. The 2010 U.S. Census counted the town's population at 23,603.

[dothedd]

MERS LINK UPDATES:

video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0LEV0YxE2RTq3cARHtXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0dWZydG05BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM3OF8x?p=mers+virus+in+the+us

tribwxin.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/mers-2.jpg?w=900

www.cnn.com/2014/05/02/health/mers-5-things/index.html

fox59.com/2014/05/02/community-hospital-in-munster-in-issues-mers-statement/#axzz30bHfZ3X9

[dothedd]

fox59.com/2014/05/02/state-health-officials-contacting-those-exposed-to-mers-virus/#axzz30bHfZ3X9

INDIANAPOLIS – It’s a new virus that’s proven deadly overseas, now it’s here in Indiana. The CDC confirms the country’s first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, has been found in Munster, Indiana.

We know the patient is an American man. He is a health care worker in Saudi Arabia. He’s in stable condition at Community Hospital in Munster.

While MERS-CoV is rare, it is often deadly, and there is no cure. The CDC is working with the Indiana State Department of Health to try to contain the virus.

State health officials will be very busy over the coming days and weeks. They’re following up with anyone who may’ve had close contact with the patient, in an investigation drawing federal and global attention.

Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana near Chicago is ground zero for the first case of MERS-CoV in the country.

“Those people who are at highest risk for exposure are being actively contacted,” said Pam Pontones, an epidemiologist with the Indiana State Department of Health.

She said what’s underway now is a travel history. Both state and federal officials are examining family members and healthcare workers who may’ve been side-by-side with that sick patient.

“The introduction of MERS-CoV is another reminder that diseases are a plane ride away. While centered in the Arabian peninsula, MERS is now in our heartland,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One April 24th, the patient flew from Saudi Arabia to London, then to Chicago, before taking a bus to Indiana. On April 27th, the patient developed respiratory symptoms and went to the hospital on April 28th.

Health officials in Indiana remain focused on the high-stakes investigation, working along with federal agencies to figure out how the virus spreads. They’re hoping nobody else gets sick.

“Make sure that we can identify anyone who may have potentially been exposed and make sure they’re informed about this potential exposure and the medical follow up,” said Pontones.

FOX 59 has learned the patient is a U.S. citizen who was living and working in Saudi Arabia. He came to the United States for a conference, and when he got ill went to stay with family.

[dothedd]

MERS

Saudi Killer Virus to Hit US and Europe
Posted by Gulf Institute on May 2, 2014 in Experts
By Ali AlAhmed
May 2, 2014


Washington DC – Increasing cases of Middle East Repository Syndrome known as MERS have killed more than 20 people this past week in Saudi Arabia and maybe spreading to the United States and Europe in the next few weeks as waves of hundreds of thousands of Saudi summer vacationers and students, and expatriates arrive to western capitals on dozens of direct flights.

MERS fatalities have already been reported in several European countries like France and United Kingdom which registered a total of three deaths and five infections. All these cases were traced to travelers from Saudi Arabia. The summer season will increase the transmission cases of MERS many folds in Europe and other destinations where hundreds of thousands of tourists spend their summer vacations.

The Waves of MERS
The United States will also see a large wave of Saudi tourists and American expatriates working in Saudi Arabia who are traveling to the United States for summer vacation, increasing the likelihood of MERS infections and fatality.

The second large wave of people arriving to the United States and Europe from Saudi Arabia will be the Saudi students population who are attending universities in the US and Europe. Most of them will spend their summer vacation that includes the fasting month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, after which they will return to their respective universities across the US and Europe.

The third wave of people who may transmit MERS to the US and Europe will be in the returning tens of pilgrimages early and mid-October of this year after they finish their 10 days pilgrimage in Saudi citizens Makkah and medina. The pilgrimage which hosts nearly three millions people has proven to be among the best places for diseases transmission over the years because of limited public facilities. In fact, pilgrimage to Makkah has witnessed the highest number of deaths from stampedes, fire and diseases more than any other annually events around the world.

Saudi Cover-up
A state of panic has engulfed the Saudi health ministry and its departments according to doctors around Saudi Arabia who declined to be identified fearing punishment. Last week the Saudi Monarchy fired its health minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah after public outrage over increasing cases of MERS spread around the country.
The Saudi government appears to have been involved in a cover-up on the extent of MERS cases, as shown in reports from doctors and family members of dead patients.
On April 18, Saudi orthopedic surgeon Dr. Saud Almeslmani tweeted that the Saudi Ministry of Health has given orders to doctors at his hospital to not record MERS fatalities in death certificate, and instead record them as heart or lung failure. Almeslmani said when he asked about the ban, he was told it came from high up, referring to the office of the health minister.
Almeslmani’s tweet was confirmed by several relatives of death MERS cases who published death certificates of MERS patients showing the cause of death as a heart failure.
Relatives reported the death of Dhafer AlAmri, 38 male, who died April 19th of MERS in Alhabib private hospital in Riyadh after his official death certificate was issued as a heart failure. Outraged by the hospital, relatives published the death certificate online.

A second patient who died without government reporting is Nora Barakah AlMugairi (AlOtaibi), 28 female, from Afif who died in Riyadh April 19 from MERS but her death certificate showed heart failure as well.

A third patient, Muqtada AlKhater,25 male, who died in Qatif Central Hospital from MERS but his death certificate recorded as complication of sickle cell disease.

Manji Mohamed Dabash, a Tunisian physician in ministry’s Salman hospital in Delam, Kharj died April 19 in Riyadh, but his death was not reported as MERS related.

In addition to concealing infection and death cases, the Saudi government appears to have failed to prevent unusually high infection rates among doctors and medical staff. This is the case even after the appointment of an acting health minister Adel Fakeih who was started by visiting MERS patients at King Fahd hospital in Jeddah without wearing a face shield or goggles as required by the World Health Organizations

Among those who we were able to confirm their deaths but not reported by the Saudi government are:
1- Khaled Mamdouh,a news editor died today in Jeddah few days after being hospitalized.
2- Dr. Wael Ramal, an orthopedic surgeon at King Abdullah Medical City who was infected in early April.
3- Dr. Othman Mutawli, a cardiologist at King Fahd hospital in Jeddah recovered from MERS, according to Saudi newspaper who spoke to him.
4- Ayman AlGhamdi, a radiologist technician was infected in King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah but was refused hospitalization due to shortage of beds at government hospitals. His family took him to Buqshan private hospital where he remains in ICU and said to be improving.
5- Dr. Ismail Qushmaq, a physician at Specialist Hospital in Jeddah remains in ICU weeks after his diagnosis with MERS. Relatives reported that breathing tubes have been removed from him after he was able to breathe on his own.

www.gulfinstitute.org/saudi-killer-virus-to-hit-us-and-europe/

[dothedd]

Mers vaccine helps mice fight off deadly virus

Today, there is no real treatment or vaccine that can tackle Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), a virus that was first detected in 2012 and has already affected 339 people in Saudi Arabia, killing 102. It's not known how it is transmitted in people, and there is only some evidence to suggest camels might be the most likely animal reservoir responsible for the strain.

Now, a team from the University of Maryland and biopharmaceutical company Novavax says its vaccine candidate has successfully induced neutralising antibodies that effectively block the virus from infecting cells in mice.

Vaccine development is typically very slow, and two papers were only just published identifying a few natural human antibodies that could serve as a basis for new vaccine models targeting Mers. However, Novavax has developed a technique it believes has the potential to be the undoing -- if pursued -- of coronaviruses likes Mers and Sars. They achieve this by building a vaccine containing nanoparticles that mimic the virus structure.

"Both Sars-Cov and Mers-Cov contain a major surface spike protein," Gale Smith, vice president of vaccine development, told Wired.co.uk. In a coronavirus, these S proteins spark the production of neutralising antibodies in the body and also help the virus bind to target cells. If we could induce those antibodies prior to infection, we could theoretically create protection from the coronavirus.

The company used the same approach this time around, a process of creating virus-like particles based on a cell line culture originally derived from a type of butterfly called lepidopteran. This process is based on baculovirus expression technology, whereby a nonessential gene is replaced with a foreign gene encoded with certain proteins. For Mers, the spike protein in question should in theory have the epitopes (the protein markers that induce immune system responses) neccessary to block the interaction between the Mers virus and human cells, says Smith.

"We use them in a bioreactor to produce proteins like those in Sars or influenza," says Smith, "these are all full length and form these nanostructures that are proven to be highly immunogenic. This tech was demoed last March with influenza, and by June we tested the resulting vaccine in humans. It's a very rapid response for emerging diseases, and now that same technology is becoming proven for Mers, another emerging pathogen that threatens potentially all of us."

The next step would be to see if animal models -- possibly camels in the case of Mers -- can be effectively immunised, with the vaccine candidate producing the right neutralising antibodies to block the virus persistently over time in a sustained way. But Smith explains the group is unlikely to take the research forward unless cases of sustained human to human transference begin.

"For us to proceed further would depend on the perceived need -- there's clearly a need for animal vaccines though. It's a powerful demonstration though, that this is the first practical approach for a vaccine that could be produced commercially using a proven technology for this disease. The strength of what we have is a rapid response for emerging pathogens."


Saudi Arabia is, however, known to be speaking with industry players about the potential development of a vaccine.

[dothedd]

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes transient lower respiratory tract infection in rhesus macaques

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3799368/

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

B,

Looks like we are about 100 confirmed cases from have some travel restricted. Per the way it went with SARS.. NA FTW!!!

[dothedd]

May 5, 2014 0:28:02 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

B,

Looks like we are about 100 confirmed cases from have some travel restricted. Per the way it went with SARS.. NA FTW!!!

    THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT ... Always happy to see/know that someone is reading my efforts!  

[dothedd]

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[dothedd]

2014 PRESS RELEASES 

Novavax to Report First Quarter Financial Results on May 7, 2014
05/01/14


New Experimental Vaccine Produces Immune Response Against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
04/30/14

Novavax Announces Positive Top-Line Data from Dose-Confirmatory Phase 2 Clinical Trial of its RSV Vaccine Candidate in Women of Childbearing Age
04/28/14

Novavax Appoints Dr. Cindy Oliver as Senior Vice President, Process Development Operations
04/07/14

Novavax to Present at the 13th Annual Needham Healthcare Conference
04/02/14

Novavax Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-End 2013 Financial Results
03/10/14


Novavax Appoints John J. Trizzino as Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations
03/10/14

Novavax Announces Extension of Contract for Advanced Development of Recombinant Influenza Products and Pandemic Preparedness with HHS-BARDA
02/27/14

Novavax to Report Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2013 Financial Results on March 10, 2014
02/19/14

Novavax Announces Management Promotions to Support Expanded Clinical Activity in 2014
01/13/14

Novavax Announces Continuation of RSV Vaccine Partnership with PATH
01/13/14