MERS-CoV vigilance rises in US

[dothedd]

May 13, 2014

British health authorities said on Monday they had found a second case of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus in a person transiting through London, who flew from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to the United States on May 1.

[dothedd]

WHO debating ... now in sessions 

"Has the mushrooming outbreak of the new MERS coronavirus reached the point where it's an international public health emergency?

That's the question a panel of outside experts will reconsider today as the World Health Organization's so-called emergency committee on the MERS virus convenes for the fifth time. Dr. Theresa Tam, head of the Public Health Agency of Canada's Health Security Infrastructure Branch, is vice-chair of the committee.
■MERS deaths in Saudi Arabia increase to 147
■Surging MERS cases stem from Saudi Arabia, WHO finds

Each previous time the group has expressed concerns about the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, a cousin of the SARS virus that has been causing sporadic and often severe or fatal illnesses in several countries on the Arabian Peninsula for the past two years.

But each previous time the group said the outbreak did not meet the definition of a public health emergency of international concern as set out in the International Health Regulations, legally binding rules that are designed to protect the world from disease threats that can cross borders.

[dothedd]

WHO holds emergency meeting on deadly Saudi MERS virus

LONDON Tue May 13, 2014 1:16pm EDT

Credit: Reuters/Faisal Al Nasser

(Reuters) - Health and infectious disease experts met at the World Health Organisation on Tuesday to discuss whether a deadly virus that emerged in the Middle East in 2012 now constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern".

The virus, which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS infections in people, has been reported in more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia alone and spread throughout the region in sporadic cases and into Europe, Asia and the United States.

Its death rate is around 30 percent of those infected.

Experts meeting at the United Nations health agency's Geneva headquarters would consider whether a recent upsurge in detected cases in Saudi Arabia, together with the wider international spread of sporadic cases, means the disease should be classed as an international emergency.

Global health regulations define such an emergency as an extraordinary event that poses a risk to other WHO member states through the international spread of disease, and which may require a coordinated international response.

In a statement issued late on Tuesday, the WHO said the experts' discussions were continuing later than planned and that its assistant director general for health security, Keiji Fukuda, would hold a news conference on Wednesday to announce the conclusions of the meeting.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

So essentially they are deciding at what point international travel will have to be limited/stopped... Stay b!

[dothedd]

I would be very surprised if THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA ...!!! 


One of my oldest and dearest friends left Chicago April 26, for Dubai and then onto Tehran; she is due back May 13th. I have not received any emails from her, which is highly unusual.    

I'm   A!  

[dothedd]

Novavax Produces MERS-CoV Vaccine Candidate  

Rockville, MD (June 6, 2013)–/GlobeNewswire, Inc. /-Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX)
announced today that it had successfully produced a vaccine candidate designed to provide
protection against the recently emerging Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
(MERS-CoV). The vaccine candidate, which was made using Novavax’ recombinant
nanoparticle vaccine technology, is based on the major surface spike (S) protein. The Company
believes that its MERS-CoV vaccine candidate may provide a path forward for a vaccine for this
emerging threat.

MERS-CoV is a novel coronavirus first identified in September 2012 by an Egyptian virologist,
who isolated the previously unknown coronavirus from the lungs of a 60-year-old patient with
pneumonia and renal failure. To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total
of 53 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 30 deaths. The newly
emergent virus is a part of the coronavirus family that includes the severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), first recognized as a global threat in March 2003 and by
July 2003, had resulted in 8,098 SARS cases in 26 countries, with 774 deaths.

Novavax had previously produced a recombinant nanoparticle vaccine candidate for the SARS-CoV virus is a novel coronavirus first identified in September 2012 by an Egyptian virologist, who isolated the previously unknown coronavirus from the lungs of a 60-year-old patient with pneumonia and renal failure. To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of 53 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 30 deaths. The newly emergent virus is a part of the coronavirus family that includes the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), first recognized as a global threat in March 2003 and by July 2003, had resulted in 8,098 SARS cases in 26 countries, with 774 deaths.

CONTINUED
Novavax had previously produced a recombinant nanoparticle vaccine candidate for the SARS-CoV virus
which was similarly based on its major surface S protein. Novavax’ SARS-CoV
vaccine candidate study demonstrated immunogenicity and complete protection of animals in a
live viral challenge; the study was published in the journal Vaccine (online 14 July, 2011)
MERS-CoV was first reported in Saudi Arabia and has spread to Europe, including England,
France, Germany and most recently Italy. Health officials do not know how the newly
discovered MERS-CoV spreads, making the development of an effective vaccine an important
public health priority.

CONTINUED:

[dothedd]

About Novavax

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company creating vaccines
to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide. Using innovative recombinant
nanoparticle technology, as well as new and efficient manufacturing approaches, the company
produces vaccine candidates to combat diseases, with the goal of allowing countries to better
prepare for and more effectively respond to rapidly spreading infections. Novavax is committed
to using its technology platform to create geographic-specific vaccine solutions and is therefore
involved in several international partnerships, including collaborations with Cadila
Pharmaceuticals of India, LG Life Sciences of Korea and PATH. Together, these organizations support Novavax’ worldwide commercialization strategy and have the global reach to create real
and lasting change in the biopharmaceutical field. Additional information about Novavax is
available on the company’s website, www.novavax.com.

[dothedd]

Novavax Produces MERS-CoV Vaccine Candidate
06/06/13
Novavax Announces Public Offer for all Outstanding Shares of Isconova
06/04/13
NOVAVAX AND ISCONOVA TO COMBINE; NOVAVAX LAUNCHES RECOMMENDED PUBLIC OFFER TO ACQUIRE ISCONOVA
06/04/13


NOVAVAX ACQUIRES ISCONOVA; EXTENDS PUBLIC TENDER OFFER PERIOD FOR REMAINING ISCONOVA SHAREHOLDERS
07/31/13

NOVAVAX AND ISCONOVA TO COMBINE; NOVAVAX LAUNCHES RECOMMENDED
PUBLIC OFFER TO ACQUIRE ISCONOVA
Rockville, MD (June 4, 2013)–/GlobeNewswire, Inc. /-Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX), a
leading vaccine development company, seeks to acquire a proprietary adjuvant to provide
greater flexibility and control of the development and commercialization of its vaccine
candidates that could benefit from use of an adjuvant. Isconova AB (NASDAQ OMX First
North Premier: ISCO), a leader in the development of saponin-based, immune-modulating
adjuvants, is expected to be a natural fit to augment Novavax’s expanding vaccine
development programs, given Isconova’s proven success with its Matrix adjuvant technology
through a number of partnerships in both VETERINARY MARKETS veterinary markets since 2006 and in recent human clinical trials.

Summary
• Recommended offer by Novavax, Inc. to acquire all outstanding shares and warrants1
issued by Isconova (the “Offer”).
• 1.2388 shares issued by Novavax are offered for each share in Isconova,
corresponding to an offer value of SEK 15.46 for each Isconova share, based on the
closing price of Novavax shares on 3 June 2013 (or SEK 16.50 based on the 15-
trading day volume-weighted average share price (“VWAP”) of Novavax up to and
including 3 June 2013).
• Based on the closing price of Novavax shares on 3 June 20132
, the Offer represents
o a premium of 26.7 percent (or 35.2 percent based on the 15-trading day
VWAP of Novavax up to and including 3 June 2013) compared to Isconova’s
closing price on 3 June 2013, the last trading day prior to the announcement of
the Offer;
o a premium of 27.3 percent (or 35.9 percent based on the 15-trading day
VWAP of Novavax up to and including 3 June 2013) compared to the 15-
trading day VWAP of Isconova up to and including 3 June 2013; and
o a premium of 49.0 percent (or 59.0 percent based on the 15-trading day
VWAP of Novavax up to and including 3 June 2013) compared to Isconova’s
VWAP during the last three calendar months up to and including 3 June 2013.

[dothedd]

AHAM ...

" Isconova AB (NASDAQ OMX First
North Premier: ISCO), a leader in the development of saponin-based, immune-modulating
adjuvants, is expected to be a natural fit to augment Novavax’s expanding vaccine
development programs, given Isconova’s proven success with its Matrix adjuvant technology
through a number of partnerships in both VETERINARY MARKETS since 2006 and in recent human clinical trials."

AS IN HUMANS AND CAMELS!      

www.novavax.com/download/releases/Swedish%20Press%20Release%20Final.pdf

[dothedd]

MERS 101: What We Do (And Don't) Know About The Virus

May 14, 201410:39 AM ET

The virus with the mysterious name has been making headlines this spring, with a mysterious increase in cases. Here's an update on what we know about MERS.

What is it? Middle East respiratory syndrome, a new and potentially fatally virus from the same family as the common cold and severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS).

Symptoms: Affects the lower and upper respiratory tracts, leading to coughing, shortness of breath, fever and pneumonia. The virus aims for cells in the lungs and possibly the kidneys, which may explain instances of kidney failure. But some people who have been infected report no symptoms.

***A Muslim pilgrim wears a mask in Mecca to protect against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in October 2013. www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/05/14/310407444/mers-101-what-we-do-and-dont-know-about-the-virus

MERS Virus Comes To U.S., But Risk To Public Is Deemed Low
Source: Scientists say the virus may have been circulating in Arabian camels for more than 20 years. Evidence also points to bats as the initial culprit, possibly infecting camels, who then infect humans. A study published in mBio suggests that the MERS virus is capable of passing between camels and humans, but neither CDC nor the World Health Organization have confirmed the connection.

Who's at risk: Some early victims either worked with camels, ate camel meat or drank camel milk, though it has yet to be confirmed that the virus passes from camels to humans. We don't know exactly how it spreads — perhaps through air or bodily fluids. Many patients are health care workers and family members who came in close contact with an infected person.

Deadly Disease Out Of Middle East Draws Concerns Of Pandemic April 25, 2014
Who's been diagnosed: The first cases were diagnosed in 2012 in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. As of May 2014, there have been more than 490 MERS diagnoses (and over 140 deaths) in Saudi Arabia. Dozens more cases have been found throughout the Middle East and in seven other countries, with two in the U.S., and cases also in France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Tunisia and the U.K. In both the United States and the U.K, patients had been in the Middle East or were in close contact with a MERS victim.

Why now? Unclear. In April, officials saw a sharp uptick of MERS cases; many involved human-to-human transmission. This rise in numbers could just be because we're more aware of the illness and are better at detecting the virus.

Jockeys take their camels home after racing in Egypt's El Arish desert. The annual race draws competitors from around the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, where camels carry the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus.

Deadly MERS Virus Circulates Among Arabian Camels
Treatment and cure: Patients are isolated, either in a hospital or at home if the viral infection is not too severe. Those with breathing difficulties are supported with a machine that provides extra oxygen. They're given medication for fever. There's no vaccine; in the best-case scenario, it would take at least three years to develop one.

Death rate: The illness is deadliest for the elderly or those with underlying conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Since 2012, about 1 in 4 patients have died. The cause can be lack of oxygen passing from the lungs into the blood.

Who should be tested? Patients who develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness within 14 days of traveling from the Middle East, or while caring for a person infected with MERS.

A bit of good news: Early on, only patients with severe symptoms were diagnosed; now patients with milder cases and a better chance of recovery are being identified. So the MERS fatality rate isn't as high as researchers once thought. 

Our sources: epidemiologist David Swerdlow from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Andrew Mesecar, a biologist at Purdue University who researches drugs to fight viruses like MERS

[dothedd]

Florida MERS patient sat in busy ER for hours...

ORLANDO (Reuters) - The second U.S. patient to be diagnosed with the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) spent at least four hours in the public waiting room of a busy Florida emergency department before he was seen by a doctor, a hospital official said.

Almost eight more hours passed before staff at Orlando's Dr. P. Phillips Hospital determined the patient had traveled from Saudi Arabia, where he worked at a hospital, began to suspect his exposure to MERS and had him moved to an isolation room, the hospital's chief quality control officer said.

The official, Dr. Antonio Crespo, said that as of Tuesday, he had changed procedures in the emergency department of Dr. P. Phillips Hospital so that any patient who comes in with flu-like symptoms will be asked whether they traveled to Saudi Arabia or other countries experiencing MERS outbreaks.

The extended window of time may have exposed hospital staff and other patients to the virus, which is responsible for a worsening outbreak in Saudi Arabia and is estimated to kill about a third of infected patients.

Florida officials said on Tuesday two healthcare workers who were in contact with the patient in the ER late last week had since developed flu-like symptoms and were being tested for MERS. Results are expected on Wednesday.

The possibility that the illness, which has no known treatment, was spreading raised new concerns about the ability of global health officials to contain it.

While the Orlando patient waited to be admitted, he was treated in a single room in the emergency department where healthcare workers wore gloves and gowns due to his diarrhea, but did not wear goggles and face masks appropriate for protecting them from the virus, Crespo said.

Florida officials said they were monitoring the health of 20 healthcare workers who had been in contact with the patient, including a doctor who had already left for Canada. They also were trying to track down nearly 100 people who may have overlapped with the patient at two Orlando medical facilities he visited.

[dothedd]

Saudi Arabia reports 5 more deaths from MERS

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Another five people in Saudi Arabia have died after contracting a potentially fatal Middle Eastern respiratory virus that has sickened hundreds in the kingdom, according to health officials.

The Saudi Health Ministry provided the death toll in its latest update on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome on Monday evening, saying that the deaths occurs in the capital Riyadh and the western cities of Jiddah and Medina.

Two of those who died were among eight new confirmed infections in the three cities, while the other three had been previously diagnosed.

A total of 147 people have died and 491 have been confirmed to have contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia since it was discovered in 2012. Most cases of the disease have been in the desert kingdom.

American health officials this week confirmed a second U.S. case of MERS. The virus was confirmed in a resident of Saudi Arabia who was visiting Florida. He is being treated in an Orlando hospital.

An earlier, unlinked U.S. patient diagnosed with MERS was released from an Indiana hospital late last week.

MERS is part of the coronavirus family of viruses, which includes the common cold and SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003. MERS can cause symptoms including fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure.

Scientists believe camels likely play a role in initial infections. The disease can then spread between people, but typically only when they are in close contact with one another, such as with infected patients and health-care workers.

newsbcpcol.stb.s-msn.com/amnews/i/31/28861c5035376f305115bd5a0e540/_h353_w628_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

May 14, 2014 15:03:10 GMT -5 dothedd said:

I would be very surprised if THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA ...!!! 


One of my oldest and dearest friends left Chicago April 26, for Dubai and then onto Tehran; she is due back May 13th. I have not received any emails from her, which is highly unusual.    

I'm   A!  

From the notes of the meeting it was on the top of the list..  Like you have pointed out the Saudis have been BSing people.. Now that it's here, we should get a more accurate count. As in, one person is hospitalized, and two more are now ill. I would say that 50 more cases and air travel from the mid east will be done.. I guess we will see.  Hope your friend is OK and just busy.. 

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

But the WHO said it wasn't a concern..

Health officials alert airports, Customs for MERS

The 22 airports with CDC advisory posters about MERS are: the New York area's John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark; Los Angeles; Chicago's O'Hare; Washington's Dulles; Houston; Dallas/Fort Worth; Atlanta; San Francisco; Seattle; Miami; Denver; Orlando; Boston; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Detroit; San Diego; Philadelphia; Charlotte; Las Vegas; and Baltimore.

[dothedd]

Who knows what WHO knows!    
I don't see my city on there, so guess I don't have to worry!    

HAVE A GRAND DAY, AHAM... 

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

So true, and same too you b!

[dothedd]

MERS an 'emerging market opportunity,' Novavax CFO says 

Critics last month questioned whether developing a vaccine for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) made any real sense for governments or vaccinemakers. But fast-forward a few weeks, and with the virus arriving in the U.S. and the death toll rising elsewhere, everyone seems to be paying a little more attention.

Novavax CFO Buck Phillips

And for companies like Maryland-based Novavax ($NVAX), whose experimental jab has blocked MERS infection in laboratory studies and could potentially be used in humans or animals, the emerging threat represents "an emerging market opportunity," CFO Buck Phillips told FierceVaccines.

While it's difficult to peg how far the virus will go--so far, it has killed 171 and infected 571 in 17 countries since April 2012--contracts with local health ministries could ensure direct sales, with ministries then supplying the vaccine to populations based on the outbreak's progression.

So far, Phillips said, interest from those ministries is there--and building.

"I think it's very fair to say that there's broad interest out there from healthcare systems around the world, particularly in the Middle East and even now in the U.S.," Phillips said, noting that Novavax is in early conversations with governmental authorities. "Quite frankly, with every additional case, that interest grows."

Some experts have questioned whom exactly to vaccinate, considering that cases have largely been concentrated in Saudi Arabia, with most of those popping up among healthcare workers in Jeddah. "I can see it works as an appeasement--that they want to say they can make it--and biochemically of course they could, but practically it doesn't make any sense," virologist Ian Jones of Britain's Reading University told Reuters last month.

Novavax VP of Vaccine Development Gale Smith

But for companies like Novavax looking to produce a shot, there's also a potential veterinary application to eliminate the threat at the source, thought to be camels. Such an application would require an adjuvant to keep costs down--something Novavax, for one, already has in use with veterinary vaccines on the market, company VP of Vaccine Development Gale Smith told FierceVaccines.

Of course, whether countries decide to go forward with human or animal MERS vaccination depends on the virus' spread. Wednesday, a World Health Organization committee said in a statement that because so far no evidence exists of sustained human-to-human transmission, the situation doesn't yet meet the criteria to be deemed a public health emergency of international concern.


GREAT VIDEO FROM NVAX CEO....

insider.thomsonreuters.com/link.html?cn=share&cid=1239714&shareToken=MzowNjM4NDE0OC03MzRiLTQwOTEtYTEyZC0yN2QxNjQwNjIyMzI%3D

[dothedd]

Thursday, May 15, 2014 

"WHO MERS Update: US, Netherlands, UAE, Jordan & Lebanon." 

"We’ve a very long MERS-CoV GAR (Global Alert & Response) update from the World Health Organization detailing 18 recent cases recorded across five countries. This is the first MERS update since May 7th.

****Noticeably absent again are any reports from Saudi Arabia, which has seen (by far) the greatest number of MERS cases, but has not had cases listed in a WHO DON update since April 14th.*****

While we don’t know the particulars as to why KSA cases have not been reported in more than a month, we do know that the WHO cannot published a report until it has received official notification from the member nation’s MOH. The Saudi backlog of unreported cases at this time must be approaching 300 cases."

"Regarding the reporting from the UAE, we continue to see a large number of Healthcare workers testing positive for the virus."

So basically the Saudis still aren't telling us Jack about the details of the MERS cases in KSA. Yes, they report new case but they leave out the important details... How they were infected, did they have contact with a MERS infected person, did they have contact with camels or other animals, did the consume camel products etc...

Go to Mike's site (Google, Avian Flu Diary), and you will see how all other countries besides the Saudis provide important case details on every single case. Even the UAE provides this crucial information.

If you read through the detailed cases, you will see that many of the documented MERS cases had no known contact with MERS patients and had no contact with camels... that's disturbing...

Equally as disturbing is that the KSA, the Mecca of MERS, continues to withhold crucial information.

The old saying, 'what you don't know can't hurt you.' does not apply here.

[dothedd]

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update 

Disease Outbreak News 

15 May 2014 - The following cases of laboratory confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported from Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Netherlands

On 14 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for the Netherlands notified WHO of the first laboratory confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection in the Netherlands. The patient is a 70 year-old male citizen of the Netherlands, with travel history to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 26 April 2014 and 10 May 2014.

The patient developed first symptoms on 1 May 2014 while in Medina, Saudi Arabia. He was evaluated at an emergency care department in Mecca on 6 May and given antibiotics; he did not have respiratory symptoms while in Saudi Arabia. On return to the Netherlands, on 10 May, his condition deteriorated, including development of respiratory symptoms, and he was hospitalized on the same day. On 13 May, he tested positive for MERS-CoV. Currently, the patient is in the ICU in a stable condition.

The patient reports no contact with animals or consumption of raw animal products. Identification of close contacts, including flight contacts has been initiated.

United States of America

On 12 May 2014, the United States IHR National Focal Point reported the second laboratory confirmed MERS-CoV infection in the United States in a male health-care worker in his 40s, who lives and works in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He travelled to the United States from Jeddah on 1 May 2014 on commercial flights via London Heathrow with travel from London to Boston, Massachusetts; from Boston to Atlanta, Georgia; and from Atlanta to Orlando, Florida.

He began feeling unwell on 1 May 2014 on the flight from Jeddah to London with a low-grade fever, chills, and a slight cough. On 9 May 2014, he was seen in an emergency room and hospitalized. The patient is in a stable condition.

The Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to work with local, state, and international partners, as well as with the airlines to obtain the passenger manifests from the flights to help identify, locate, and interview contacts.

United Arab Emirates

On 11 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates reported nine additional MERS-CoV cases residing in Abu Dhabi. Two are UAE nationals, one is an Omani national, and six are of different nationalities but residing in Abu Dhabi.

A 51-year old male Omani national, residing in Al Buraimi, Oman, developed fever on 18 April 2014. He was admitted to the hospital on 20 April 2014. On 23 April 2014 he tested positive for MERS-CoV. He is currently in hospital in isolation in a stable condition. The patient has comorbidities, no history of travel, no contact with animals, and no history of contact with a laboratory confirmed case of MERS-CoV. The IHR NFP for Oman was already informed about this case.

A 39-year-old female health-care worker, residing in Abu Dhabi, who was screened as part of contact investigation. She was asymptomatic; MERS-CoV was confirmed by the laboratory on the 25 April 2014. She has a history of exposure to a confirmed case of MERS-CoV notified to WHO on 18 April 2014. She has no comorbidities, no history of travel, and no contact with animals.

A 30-year old male UAE national, residing in Abu Dhabi. On 24 April 2014, he went to the emergency room with cough and shortness of breath, but he was clinically stable, and was treated as an outpatient. On 25 April, he tested positive for MERS-CoV. He is currently in hospital in a good general condition. The patient had reported comorbidities, no history of recent travel, no history of animal contact, and no history of contact with a laboratory confirmed case of MERS-CoV.

A 42-years old male UAE national, residing in Abu Dhabi, who was asymptomatic and was screened as a contact of the first case in this notification. On 25 April 2014, he tested positive for MERS-CoV. He has no history of travel and no history of contact with animals.

A 30-year old female health-care worker residing in Abu Dhabi. She had a sore throat on 15 April 2014; a sputum sample was taken on 16 April 2014 as part of a general screening of health-care workers following a cluster of cases in the hospital. She tested positive for MERS-CoV on the 17 April 2014 and was admitted to hospital the same day. She was discharged on the 22 April 2014. She has no comorbidity, no significant travel history, and no contact with animals.

A 44-year old male health-care worker residing in Abu Dhabi. He had a mild sore throat that started on the 19 April 2014. He had contact on 13 April at a social gathering with a confirmed case reported to WHO on 17 April 2014. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 21 April 2014 and was admitted to hospital on 22 April 2014. He was discharged on 1 May 2014. He has no comorbidities, no significant travel history, and no contact with animals.

A 41-year old male hospital employee residing in Abu Dhabi. He was asymptomatic, but was screened without having contact with any case as part of a general screening at his work place. On 21 April, he tested positive for MERS-CoV and was admitted to hospital on 22 April. He was discharged on 27 April 2014. He has no comorbidities, no significant travel history, and no contact with animals
A 68-year old male hospital employee residing in Abu Dhabi. He was asymptomatic, but was screened without having contact with any case as part of a general screening at his work place. On 23 April, he tested positive for MERS-CoV and was admitted to hospital on 24 April 2014 for isolation. He was discharged on 30 April 2014. He has reported comorbidities, has no significant travel history, and no contact with animals.

A 45-year old male hospital employee residing in Abu Dhabi. He was asymptomatic, but was screened without having contact with any case as part of a general screening at his work place. On 26 April, he tested positive for MERS-CoV and was admitted to hospital on the same day for isolation. He was discharged on 1 May 2014. He has no comorbidities, no significant travel history, and no contact with animals.

On 8 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported an additional four laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV.

A 37 year-old male expatriate construction worker in Abu Dhabi who became ill on 23 April 2014 and was hospitalized on 29 April 2014. He tested positive for MERS-CoV on 1 May 2014 and is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) in a critical but stable condition. He is reported to have no comorbidities, no history of travel, and no contact with laboratory confirmed cases or with animals.

A 38 year-old female administrative officer in a health clinic from Abu Dhabi who became ill on 20 April 2014. She was admitted to hospital on 26 April 2014. Initial laboratory tests for MERS-CoV were negative for the virus, but a follow-up test on 27 April 2014 returned positive on 1 May 2014. Currently, the patient is in the ICU in a critical but stable situation. She has several comorbidities, but is also to have no history of travel, no contact with laboratory confirmed cases or with animals, and no history of raw camel milk consumption.

A 61 year-old male expatriate tailor shop owner residing in Abu Dhabi. He has been hospitalized since 18 March 2014 as a case of atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Samples collected on 29 April 2014 and sent to the laboratory tested positive for MERS-CoV on 1 May 2014.
Currently, he is in the ICU in a critical but stable condition. He is reported have no history of travel, no contact with laboratory confirmed cases or with animals, and no history of raw camel milk consumption.
A 34 year-old female expatriate residing in Abu Dhabi. She is asymptomatic. She was detected through mass screening of her work place without being in contact with any known case. Samples collected on 29 April 2014 and sent to the laboratory tested positive for MERS-CoV on 1 May 2014. She is reported to have no comorbidities, no history of travel, and no contact with laboratory confirmed cases or with animals. She is a vegetarian and consumes only pasteurized dairy products.

One additional case not previously reported was provided to WHO on 8 April 2014 by the National IHR Focal Point for UAE:

A 59 year-old male farm employee residing in Abu Dhabi. The patient had onset of symptoms on 28 March 2014 with febrile illness. On 30 March 2014, he was admitted to hospital and was being treated in the ICU. On 3 April 2014, he was laboratory confirmed with MERS-CoV. He is reported to have had contact with an admitted laboratory confirmed case of MERS-CoV.

Public health authorities continued to carry out contact tracing and an epidemiological investigation. Further developments will be communicated when available.

Jordan

On 11 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for Jordan reported to WHO an additional case of MERS-CoV.

The case is a 50 year-old male health-care worker, Jordanian citizen, and resident of Zarka Governorate. He presented with symptoms on 7 May 2014. On 10 May his condition worsened and he was diagnosed with pneumonia after performing a chest X-ray. He was admitted to hospital the same day and tested positive for MERS-CoV. The patient has a history of contact with two MERS-confirmed cases. He is in a stable condition. He is reported to have no history of travel and no history of contact with animals.

Tracing and screening of six family members and 24 health-care workers for MERS-CoV is currently ongoing.

Lebanon

On 8 May, 2014, the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) of Lebanon reported the first laboratory-confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection.

On 22 April 2014, a 60 year-old male health-care worker and national of Lebanon complained of high-grade fever. On 27 April 2014, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital on 30 April 2014. His symptoms included fever, dyspnoea, and productive cough. On 2 May 2014, he tested positive for MERS-CoV. He is reported to have comorbidities. He was in a stable condition in hospital and was released on 7 May 2014.

The patient is reported to have no contact with laboratory confirmed cases or with animals and no history of raw camel milk consumption. No history of travel was reported in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.

The patient is known to travel throughout the Gulf region, particularly to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE; investigations into the patient’s travel history are ongoing. His most recent travel was five weeks prior to symptom onset to UAE and eight weeks prior to symptom onset to Jeddah where he visited one of the hospitals that had been facing an upsurge of MERS-CoV cases.

Globally, 572 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV have officially been reported to WHO, including 173 deaths. The global total includes all of the cases reported in this update (18), plus 58 laboratory confirmed cases officially reported to WHO from Saudi Arabia between 5 and 9 May. WHO is working with Saudi Arabia for additional information on these cases and will provide further updates as soon as possible.

[dothedd]

IS THE WORLD BECOMING SICKER?

www.iayork.com/MysteryRays/2012/07/16/is-the-world-becoming-sicker/

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

More proof the Saudis are lying about the severity of their situation.. Aholes!!

Man who met U.S. MERS patient picked up infection, not sick : CDC

Health officials reported Saturday what appears to be the first time that a mysterious Middle East virus has spread from one person to another in the United States.

[dothedd]

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) 

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30% of these people died.

Image of map showing countries in Arabian Penninsula with and without confirmed MERs as detailed on this page.So far, all the cases have been linked to countries in the Arabian Peninsula. This virus has spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is no evidence of sustained spreading in community settings.

CDC continues to closely monitor the MERS situation globally and work with partners to better understand the risks of this virus, including the source, how it spreads, and how infections might be prevented. CDC recognizes the potential for MERS-CoV to spread further and cause more cases globally and in the U.S. We have provided information for travelers and are working with health departments, hospitals, and other partners to prepare for this.

 MERS in the U.S.

First U.S. Case (Indiana)

On May 2, 2014, the first U.S. case of MERS was confirmed in a traveler from Saudi Arabia to Indiana, via London and Chicago. The patient is a healthcare worker who lives and works in Saudi Arabia. He was isolated in a hospital during the course of illness and later discharged, having fully recovered. Public health officials have contacted healthcare workers, family members, and travelers who had close contact with the patient. More about the Indiana case.
Ongoing investigation of the first imported case of MERS in the U.S. identified on May 16, 2014, evidence of apparent past MERS-CoV infection in an Illinois resident who had contact with first U.S. case, reported in Indiana. The Illinois resident met with the Indiana MERS patient on two occasions shortly before the patient was identified as having MERS-CoV infection. The Illinois resident did not seek or require medical care. However, local health officials have monitored his health daily since May 3 as part of the investigation. The health department first tested this person for active MERS-CoV infection on May 5. Those results were negative. Public health officials are also collecting blood samples from people who were identified as close contacts of the Indiana patient. On May 16, the test result was positive for the Illinois resident, showing that he has antibodies to MERS-CoV. More about how we test for MERS-CoV infection. More about the Illinois resident.

Second U.S. Case (Florida)

On May 11, 2014, a second U.S. imported case of MERS was confirmed in a traveler who also came to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia. This patient is also a healthcare worker who traveled from Saudi Arabia to Orlando via London, Boston and Atlanta. The patient is currently isolated in a hospital and doing well. Health officials are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the patient during air travel and in the hospital. More about the Florida case.
The two U.S. cases are not linked.

Situation Update:

The MERS situation in the U.S. represents a very low risk to the general public in this country. CDC and other public health partners continue to investigate and respond to the changing situation to prevent the spread of MERS-CoV in the U.S. We recognize the potential for MERS-CoV to spread further and cause more cases globally and in the United States. In preparation for this, we have Enhanced surveillance and laboratory testing capacity in states to detect cases
Developed guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations
Provided recommendations for healthcare infection control and other measures to prevent disease spread... 
Provided guidance for flight crews, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) units at airports, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers about reporting ill travelers to CDC
Disseminated up-to-date information to the general public, international travelers, and public health partners...

Related Pages:

CDC feature, MERS Imported to U.S.
CDC Press Release Illinois resident who had contact with Indiana MERS patient tests positive for MERS coronavirus. May 17, 2014

CDC Press Release CDC announces second imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States, May 12, 2014

CDC Press Briefing Transcript CDC Transcript: Second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States, May 12, 2014

CDC Press Release CDC announces first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States, May 2, 2014

CDC Press Briefing Transcript CDC Transcript: First case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States, May 2, 2014


Frequently Asked Questions & Answers:

For information about MERS, the virus that causes it, how it spreads, symptoms, prevention tips, and what CDC is doing, see Frequently Asked Questions & Answers.

Information for Specific Groups


People Who May Be at Increased Risk for MERS:

Information for people who have recently traveled from the Arabian Peninsula, had contact with a recent traveler from this area, or had contact with a confirmed or probable case of MERS…
image icon of stethoscope
Healthcare Providers
Interim guidance, case definitions, infection prevention and control recommendations, home care guidance, preparedness checklists, clinical features of MERS...
image icon of stethoscope
Health Departments
Interim guidance, case definitions, tools to collect data on patients under investigation, and home care guidance...
image icon of laboratroy flask
Laboratories
Guidelines for collecting, handling and testing clinical specimens, and lab biosafety guidelines...
image icon of laboratroy flask
Travelers & Airline Crew
Guidelines for travelers and guidance for airline crew on flights arriving to the U.S...

New and Updated
Updates On Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-coV) Investigation In The United States. CDC Telebriefing. MAY 17, 2014

Illinois resident who had contact with Indiana MERS patient tests positive for MERS coronavirus. CDC Press Release. MAY 17, 2014

People Who May Be at Increased Risk for MERS UPDATED MAY 17, 2014
MERS in the U.S. UPDATED MAY 17, 2014

About MERS UPDATED MAY 17, 2014
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with MERS UPDATED

MAY 15, 2014
First confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in the United States, updated information on the epidemiology of MERS-CoV infection, and guidance for the public, clinicians, and public health authorities — May 2014. MMWR. May 14, 2014
CDC announces second imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States.

Press release. May 12, 2014

Interim Guidance for Health Professionals, Updated May 9, 2014

Case Definitions, Updated May 9, 2014

CDC announces first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States. Press release. May 2, 2014


Updated information on the epidemiology of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection and guidance for the public, clinicians, and public health authorities, 2012-2013.



www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/index.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_003

[dothedd]

France offers help with MERS

RIYADH: MD RASOOLDEEN
Published — Tuesday 20 May 2014


France is ready to help the Kingdom combat the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a visiting minister said here on Monday.

Jean-Marie Le Guen, state minister for parliamentary relations, told journalists that his country could provide expertise in the fight against MERS.

Le Guen currently heads a large French delegation participating in the Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference 2014 at the Riyadh convention center, which he opened with Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

The press briefing held at the French Embassy included Bertrand Besancenot, the country's ambassador.

The minister said France has expertise in epidemiology and infectious diseases in several countries including its former colonies.

“Initially, we can cooperate with the health sector in the field of laboratory tests for the coronavirus and other infectious diseases,” he said.

Le Guen commended the manner in which the Saudi Ministry of Health has dealt with the virus. “It is well under control,” he said. He said the French government has not issued any restrictions for its citizens traveling to the Kingdom because of the MERS outbreak.

He said the health sector remains a priority for his country, besides political, cultural and economic relations. “Eight percent of our pharmaceutical products are exported to the Kingdom and there are some 350 Saudi doctors reading for their postgraduate degrees at various hospitals in France,” he said.

Le Guen said that France has vast experience in dealing with road accidents and could help the Saudi Red Crescent. “It would include monitoring accidents on highways, prompt attention to incidents, immediate medical care and rushing the victims to the nearest health facilities." He said talks with the Saudi Red Crescent would take place in October.

Photo URL: www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/galleryformatter_slide/1400518088086562800.jpg

HELPING HAND: Jean-Marie Le Guen, state minister for parliamentary relations, speaks to journalists at the French Embassy in Riyadh on Monday. French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot is pictured on the left. (AN photo by Iqbal Hossain)

[dothedd]

Anti-MERS trial vaccine raises hopes

RIYADH: MD RASOOLDEEN
Published — Tuesday 20 May 2014

The University of Maryland, in partnership with the US-based Novavax pharmaceutical company, has developed a vaccine that appears to effectively fight the MERS coronavirus in mice.

Meanwhile, four deaths and six new cases of MERS were reported on Monday, bringing the death toll to 173 since September 2012.

The fatalities were reported in Jeddah, Makkah, Riyadh and Tabuk and were from among cases that had been previously diagnosed.

Newly diagnosed patients, meanwhile, are all men from Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Taif.

The announcement of the “investigational vaccine” was published in Vaccine magazine on April 13 this year.

Novavax has claimed that the vaccine is also a “candidate” against the SARS coronavirus, which killed 775 people and infected 8,000 in 2003.

Stanley C. Erck, president and chief executive officer of Novavax, said the company is communicating with various parties, including the US government to try the vaccine against the coronavirus.

“But nothing yet materialized with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Erck said that more funding is needed for research and that there would have to be close cooperation with the health authorities in affected countries.

Matthew Frieman, assistant professor and supervisor of the study at Maryland University, said the vaccine showed effective results by increasing the antibodies resisting the virus in mice.

The statement published on Novavax's website said that the vaccine would target the S protein that links the virus with the body's cells. Once the protein is dismantled the process would provide prevention and protection against the virus.

 

http://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/galleryformatter_slide/6569261450396096.jpg

[dothedd]

Putting up united front against MERS 


SUSAN V. OPLE
Published — Tuesday 20 May 2014

Hwe son is a nurse assigned to the emergency room of a leading medical facility in Saudi Arabia. On May 5, he was diagnosed positive for MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome — Coronavirus and was quarantined together with his wife, who had shown the same symptoms.

The concerned mother said that she was worried about other Filipino nurses who, like her son, may also be exposed to the coronavirus because of the nature of their work. The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, is urging the Philippine government to send a team of its own medical experts to discuss with their Saudi counterparts a joint campaign against MERS particularly among Filipino health workers, quite a good number of whom are on rotational duty in Saudi hospitals.

Though anonymous and living in faraway Mindanao, this mother is entitled like everyone else, to know more about how the campaign against MERS is progressing. Indeed, many of the foreign nurses and medical staff that currently work in hospitals and clinics across the Middle East never thought a strange disease such as MERS-CoV would be part of the hazards of their job. But as health professionals, these Filipino staff, as well as other nationals, are duty-bound to serve, and to put on a brave face despite the increasing number of such coronavirus cases.

It would not hurt, however, to have infection control protocols written in the languages most familiar to foreign workers assigned to government medical facilities in Saudi Arabia. A “Caring for Carers” program can also be designed to make sure that the emotional and physical needs (perhaps, even financial?) of those assigned to MERS patients are addressed — regardless of nationality. Perhaps it is also time for health experts in the Gulf region to spearhead a regional conference on MERS to show a united front against this dreaded disease.

The easiest thing would have a daily or weekly tally of how many have contracted the disease and sadly, even how many have died from it.

Numbers are hard facts but certainly, such numbers also include patients who have recovered from MERS. Perhaps, it is also apt that the public gets to read and hear about them, too.

The Saudi government is doing its best given the circumstances to stem the growing number of coronavirus cases, in close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO). While there are certain initiatives and trends that its health authorities may not be at liberty to share with the public, I am sure that nothing impedes them from reaching out to other countries where MERS cases have been discovered.

While this may already be happening, it is something that the world deserves to know about. There is comfort to be found in a systematic, cross-border set of health protocols that would guarantee a more effective control and management of this disease.

Because after all, these patients and all high-risk potential patients have mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends — extended families that light up the sky with prayers for recovery and protection.

They deserve to be assured that everything possible is indeed being done, and that the world is acting as one against the strangest virus said to come from camels. A daily tally report on MERS patients and fatalities will not suffice, sweeping national and international measures must now be firmly in place, with the international community adequately informed and motivated to help fight this virus.

While there is no cause to panic, there certainly is no reason to be complacent either. The balance should always be tipped in favor of public health and safety.

[dothedd]

African camels show MERS virus more widespread than believed

BLOOMBERG NEWS
Published — Tuesday 20 May 2014


GENEVA: The deadly respiratory virus that has spread from Saudi Arabia around the world was found in camels in Nigeria, Tunisia and Ethiopia, showing the pathogen is more widespread than previously known.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, was found in almost all blood samples taken from 358 dromedary camels in Nigeria and 188 camels in Ethiopia, according to a study published online by the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. In Tunisia, MERS-CoV was found in 54 percent of adult camels, and in all of the animals from one southern province.

The findings add to previous studies that have found the virus in camels in Spain’s Canary Islands and Egypt, as well as in several nations on the Arabian peninsula, and suggest that there may be undiagnosed human cases in Africa, researchers from the Netherlands wrote in the study. The blood samples were collected between 2009 and 2011, suggesting the virus was circulating well before 2012 when the first human case was identified, they said.

“The possibility exists that MERS-CoV illness occurred before its discovery in 2012 and that such infection has been overlooked in the areas with evidence for virus circulation among animals during the past 10 years,” the authors wrote in the journal, published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MERS has sickened at least 614 people, killing 184 of them since 2012, according to the World Health Organization. While most of the cases and deaths have been in Saudi Arabia, there have been infections in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States. All cases are linked to people who live in or have traveled to the Middle East, or who were exposed to someone who did.

The WHO’s emergency committee last week decided against declaring MERS a global health emergency, citing the lack of evidence for sustained human-to-human transmission. Most of the infections have been because of poor infection-control practices in hospitals, the WHO said.

MERS causes fever, cough and shortness of breath, leading in severe cases to respiratory failure, organ failure and death. People with weakened immune systems such as the elderly and those with diabetes, cancer or chronic lung disease are most at risk. There’s no vaccine and no specific treatment.

The potential route of transmission from camels to humans isn’t well understood. Many cases of the illness have occurred among camel herders and people who visited camel farms or consumed unpasteurized camel milk.

The virus belongs to the same family of pathogens as SARS, which killed about 800 people worldwide after first appearing in China more than a decade ago.

Saudi Arabia expects millions of Muslims from around the world to perform the annual Haj pilgrimage to Makkah and Medina in early October. The WHO doesn’t recommend any travel restrictions related to MERS, though Saudi Arabia has suggested that pilgrims over 65 years or under 12, and pregnant women, refrain from the journey.

www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/galleryformatter_slide/camels_3.jpg
An expatriate worker wears a mouth and nose mask as he leads camels at a farm outside Riyadh on May 12, 2014. A new study says the deadly MERS virus that has spread from Saudi Arabia around the world was found in camels in Nigeria, Tunisia and Ethiopia, showing the pathogen is more widespread than previously known. (AFP)

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Long, long weekend. Time for bed.

-African Camel Shows MERS more Widespread than Originally Thought
-Netherlands Reports Second Case of MERS-CoV Infection
-Saudi Arabia confirms six people died of Mers virus over the weekend

[dothedd]

May 19, 2014 22:56:39 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

Long, long weekend. Time for bed.

-African Camel Shows MERS more Widespread than Originally Thought
-Netherlands Reports Second Case of MERS-CoV Infection
-Saudi Arabia confirms six people died of Mers virus over the weekend

Good Morning Aham, 

Thanks for the articles ... how do you create the links like that?  It sure would save me some time of I didn't have to copy and paste.

barb

[Value Buy]

The patient in Indiana, went home without much fanfare, and the hospital workers who were put out of work to see if they had been infected are all back to work.

The hospital did their job professionally and correctly.

No public rabble rousing.

Now, tell me how many people in the U.S.A. died from the flu last year, that came from across the globe?

I am not trying to minimize this MERS outbreak, but right now it looks like it is treatable. Maybe it will metabolize to something more deadly, I do not know.

I do know pneumonia or flu kills a heck of a lot more humans across the globe right now.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Barb, I will send ya a PM later about the links, not a problem.

VB, my concern isn't about a huge problem here. My concern is that out of 2 confirmed cases in the US, one has transmitted it to another person. This tells me two things; the first is that the Saudis have been BSing out person to person transmission. The second is that the deplorable conditions in the Mid East and Asia are ripe for a pandemic influenza.

Both MERS and this bird flu have been gaining in momentum, plus there is a polio outbreak in these war torn areas of the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in Syrian/Palestinian refugee camps and hundreds of millions live in abject poverty all through Asia. With how the Saudis and these Asian nations have been in denial about person to person transmission of these super bugs, the chances are very high for a pandemic simple because they have no real way to contain the outbreak.

As we can clearly see, culling birds hasn't stopped a thing in the spread of bird flu, and now "they" are saying that MERS was spread around way more than initially thought because of tests on camels. This truly is a very big problem, and I really hope we can stop this from turning into a repeat of 1918.