Novel coronavirus

[Glassfan]

Middle East respiratory symptom coronavirus, or MERS-CoV.

New SARS-like virus is a 'threat to the entire world'

Novel coronavirus is part of a family called coronaviruses, which cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, as well as a variety of animal diseases. However, the new virus is not SARS.

The virus had infected 44 people worldwide as of last week, most of them in the Middle East, according to the World Health Organization's most recent update Thursday. Half of them have died.

A 23rd death was reported Tuesday, when a French hospital and the French government reported a man diagnosed with the coronavirus had died of organ failure.

New SARS-like virus poses medical mystery

This new virus was first identified and reported by Dr. Ali Mohamed Zaki at the Virology Laboratory of Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He had taken a sample from the Saudi patient's lungs before he succumbed to his illness. After comparing it to other cold and flu viruses and the SARS virus, it became clear that he had found a new virus, according a WHO spokesman.

 

[GoodGame]

Found something on CDC.gov:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ncv/

Novel Coronavirus Cases and Deaths, April 2012 - May 2013

Current as of May 28, 2013
Countries Cases (Deaths)
France 2 (1)
Jordan 2 (2)
Qatar 2 (0)
Saudi Arabia 32 (18)
Tunisia 2 (0)
United Kingdom (UK) 3 (2)
United Arab Emirates (UAE) 1 (1)
Total 44 (24)

Spoiler :

Q: What is the new human coronavirus?

A: A novel coronavirus was identified in 2012 as the cause of respiratory illness in people. The new virus is a beta coronavirus. It is different from any other coronavirus previously found in people.
Q: Is this virus the same as the SARS virus?

A: No. The novel coronavirus is not the same virus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. However, like the SARS virus, the novel coronavirus is most similar to those found in bats. CDC is still learning about this new virus.
Novel Coronavirus Cases and Deaths, April 2012 - May 2013

Current as of May 28, 2013
Countries Cases (Deaths)
France 2 (1)
Jordan 2 (2)
Qatar 2 (0)
Saudi Arabia 32 (18)
Tunisia 2 (0)
United Kingdom (UK) 3 (2)
United Arab Emirates (UAE) 1 (1)
Total 44 (24)

For more information, see the World Health Organization (WHO)External Web Site Icon.
Q: What are the symptoms of novel coronavirus infection?

A: Most people who got infected with the novel coronavirus developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some people were reported as having a mild respiratory illness.
Q: Does the virus spread from person to person?

A: The virus has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact. Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed. Clusters of cases in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UK and France are being investigated.
Q: Can I still travel to countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries?

A: Yes. WHO and CDC have not issued travel health warnings for any country related to novel coronavirus.

For more information, see CDC’s travel notice on Novel (New) Coronavirus in the Arabian Peninsula.
Q: What if I recently traveled to countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries and got sick?

A: If you develop a fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 10 days after traveling from countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries(1), you should see your healthcare provider and mention your recent travel.
Q: What are the treatments?

A: There are no specific treatments for illnesses caused by the novel coronavirus. Medical care is supportive and to help relieve symptoms.
Q: Is there a lab test?

A: Lab tests (polymerase chain reaction or PCR) for the novel coronavirus are available at CDC and other international labs. Otherwise, these tests are not routinely available.
Q: What should healthcare providers and health departments do?

A: For recommendations and guidance on the case definitions; infection control, including personal protective equipment guidance; case investigation; and specimen collection and shipment, see Update, Case Definitions, & Guidance.

 

[Glassfan]

WHO did not convene a group to discuss the naming of this virus. The proposed name -
MERS-CoV- represents a consensus that is acceptable to WHO. It was built on
consultations with a large group of scientists.

Coronavirus infections

 

[El_Machinae]

This story pisses me off. Dr. Zaki quickly mailed the sample to highly qualified colleagues because he realized it was a new and deadly virus. It (in the meantime) had killed other people in outbreaks. The virus sample went to Dr. Ron Fouchier, a leading virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center (EMC) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, who sequenced it.

Eramus now has rights that are based on work involving the viral sequence it generated — such as diagnostic tests, vaccines and antiviral treatments. It now owns the IP for treating the virus. Saudi Arabia and Dr. Zaki have none. Scientists in Saudi Arabia need to sign the Materials Transfer Agreement, even, to get samples back.

http://www.nature.com/news/tensions-linger-over-discovery-of-coronavirus-1.12108

The Saudi government is less than pleased, because Zaki's rapid scientific action has lost them the right to collect money from additional research. Dr. Zaki has since been fired.

 

[Glassfan]

I'm not certain if it's good or bad. I'm reminded of Bob Ballard, who refused to claim the Titanic wreck on moral grounds - unintentionally allowing "graverobbers" to later loot the site.

Aside from the privilage of "naming", the virus (which appears to have failed. It's being refered to as MERS-CoV, not hCoV-EMC), isn't the Erasmus Medical Center owed some recognition and recompense for the work it's done?

 

[Glassfan]

Why MERS virus is so scary

"Looking at the overall global situation, my greatest concern right now is the novel coronavirus," Margaret Chan (the Director General of the World Health Organization) said, calling it "a threat to the entire world."

Sadly, resources for confronting such outbreaks have decreased since the 2008 financial crisis, and MERS has emerged in one of the most difficult regions in the world. Were the virus to reach any of the refugee camps that house more than 2 million Syrian refugees, a genuine pandemic could ensue.

 

[Glassfan]

Deadly MERS-CoV virus spreads to Italy

(CNN) -- The sometimes deadly MERS-CoV virus has spread to Italy, the World Health Organization said in statements this weekend.
Sunday's announcement that two female patients had contracted the virus follows one Saturday that said a 45-year-old man, who had recently traveled to Jordan, had become infected. They are the first three known cases in Italy.
Of the 53 known infections with the virus, 30 have resulted in death since September 2012, the organization said. Precise data are not available on the total number of people who have been infected because it is difficult to tell how many get a mild form of the infection.
WHO tracks new virus to Middle East Health workers infected with coronavirus How is dangerous new virus spreading?
A patient died May 28 in France after having contracted the virus during a trip to the Middle East.

 

[Glassfan]

Saudi Arabia warns pilgrims over coronavirus

Health officials in Saudi Arabia have asked pilgrims visiting its holy sites to wear masks in crowded places to stop the spread of the MERS coronavirus.

Thirty-eight people have died from the virus in Saudi Arabia.

Millions of Muslims from around the world are expected to take part in the Hajj this October.

The World Health Organization has so far confirmed of a total of 80 cases of infection, including 44 deaths worldwide.

 

[Glassfan]

MERS makes first U.S. appearance, in Indiana

(CNN) -- The first U.S. case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has been reported in Indiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

The patient is a health-care provider who recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to provide health care, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general with the U.S. Public Health Service and director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

The person, an American male, traveled on April 24 from Riyadh to London, then to Chicago, and took a bus to Indiana, officials said. He began experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, and fever on April 27, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

 

[classical_hero]

This story pisses me off. Dr. Zaki quickly mailed the sample to highly qualified colleagues because he realized it was a new and deadly virus. It (in the meantime) had killed other people in outbreaks. The virus sample went to Dr. Ron Fouchier, a leading virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center (EMC) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, who sequenced it.

Eramus now has rights that are based on work involving the viral sequence it generated — such as diagnostic tests, vaccines and antiviral treatments. It now owns the IP for treating the virus. Saudi Arabia and Dr. Zaki have none. Scientists in Saudi Arabia need to sign the Materials Transfer Agreement, even, to get samples back.

http://www.nature.com/news/tensions-linger-over-discovery-of-coronavirus-1.12108

The Saudi government is less than pleased, because Zaki's rapid scientific action has lost them the right to collect money from additional research. Dr. Zaki has since been fired.

That is far scarier than the virus.

 

[El_Machinae]

The entire thing is kinda scary. The dude lost his job trying to do the right thing, and will only suffer the consequences. Will the Netherlands compensate him if MERS becomes a real threat? I mean, it already is, but one that require post-infection treatments to halt?

 

[GoodGame]

The entire thing is kinda scary. The dude lost his job trying to do the right thing, and will only suffer the consequences. Will the Netherlands compensate him if MERS becomes a real threat? I mean, it already is, but one that require post-infection treatments to halt?

Ethically, I think the WHO should compensate the Saudis and the doctor. In effect, he gave the world an early warning, which I think we can all appreciate, since reportedly it is spreading to other countries (USA-Midwest reported a case very recently, I've read).
Arguably, the Dutch company could have gotten samples by any means, and they did original work themselves on samples.

It's sad that profit and IP rights dwarfed cooperative emerging disease surveillance in this case.

 

[Glassfan]

Second U.S. case of MERS confirmed

(CNN) -- There is a second confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome imported into the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday.

Officials from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health are investigating.

The Florida patient is also a health care provider who lives and works in Saudi Arabia, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general with the U.S. Public Health Service and director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

The 44-year-old Florida patient traveled on May 1 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to London, then from London to Boston; Boston to Atlanta; and Atlanta to Orlando.

 

[peter grimes]

You'd have to be pretty close to him to be exposed. I appreciate that the relevant authorities are taking this seriously, but I don't think it's helpful at all for CNN to be covering every single diagnosis.

 

[Glassfan]

Third U.S. MERS case brings more questions than answers

The nation's third reported case of the MERS virus underscores how little is known about the illness that first emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The latest case was first reported Saturday. Tests show that an Illinois man, who'd had two short business meetings with an infected Indiana man, had contracted the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus.

 

[timtofly]

You'd have to be pretty close to him to be exposed. I appreciate that the relevant authorities are taking this seriously, but I don't think it's helpful at all for CNN to be covering every single diagnosis.

Have they narrowed it down to just a handshake?

 

[Glassfan]

Algeria confirms first MERS cases

Algiers (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - Algeria has confirmed its first two cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infection, both being pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia, the countrys Ministry of Health said on Saturday.

The infections were two men aged 66 and 59 respectively, both of who had returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah pilgrimage.

MERS coronavirus has already claimed 187 lives in Saudi Arabia since its inception in 2012. Cases have also been reported in other countries, including Iran, the United States and the Netherlands.

Illustration of MERS virus.