MERS threat

[aris2chat]

Spread of camel to humans and humans to humans, it has been exported the UK and caused many to cancel Mecca flights for the hajj. Now it is effecting schools.

Schools allowed to cancel morning assembly
arabnews.com/news/557341

JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS

Published — Friday 18 April 2014
Last update 18 April 2014 12:25 am


The Education Ministry has authorized principals to cancel morning assembly at schools to help counter the spread of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. Mubarak Al-Usaimi, spokesman of the ministry, said principals could also cancel other large gatherings of students inside their schools at any time. Several schools for girls in Jeddah have started taking precautions to prevent the virus from spreading. Kawthar, the female principal of an elementary school, said she received instructions to reduce crowding of students, especially during breaks. She has canceled the morning assembly. “Administrators and teachers at the school do not use masks, to avoid scaring the girls. But each class supervisor has a carton of masks for the protection of little girls inside classrooms,” she said.One teacher said that the school administration has ordered teachers to educate students on hygiene, including putting on masks and replacing them every three hours, and staying away from crowded areas.Parents have expressed concern about the MERS outbreak in Jeddah, with some keeping their children at home.“I didn’t send my little girl to school because I am afraid she'll contract the virus,” said Muhrah Al-Zahrani, the mother of a student. “I've heard that the dusty atmosphere is contagious.”Sameha Arab, another mother, said she bought sterilizing liquids for her daughter and put them in her school bag. Several other mothers said they hoped the education department would suspend classes until the government could eliminate the MERS threat. Two students, Aziza Diab and Nahla Al-Ghamdi, said their mothers are being more cautious than usual and placed masks and sterilizing liquids in their bags. They said they were initially annoyed about it, but now use the masks and stay away from crowded places. Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director general of education in Jeddah, said he was satisfied with the health situation at schools in the city. “I want to personally praise parents for their high level of awareness and students for their discipline regarding this issue,” Al-Thaqafi said.He made the comments after inspecting several schools with fellow education officials. Al-Thaqafi toured the Prince Sultan Educational Complex accompanied by Abdulrahman Al-Asmari, the head of the school administration, and Said Al-Suhafi, the complex manager. Al-Thaqafi also checked the study halls and cafeteria, where he was told the meals are in line with the department's price, quality and health standards.The group also visited the medical clinic where first aid is available for the 3,000 students.

 

[waltky]

MERS causes shuffling of Saudi cabinet...

Saudi Arabia Replaces Health Minister Amid MERS Fears
April 21, 2014 — Saudi Arabian King Abdullah removed Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah from his post on Monday as the kingdom grapples with a worrying surge of new cases of the SARS-like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). His duties will be taken over by Labor Minister Adel Fakieh, who keeps his current post, state television reported.

The television channel cited the king's royal decree in its report but gave no reason for the switch. Rabeeah, who on Sunday told a televised news conference there was no medical reason to impose stricter preventative measures against the spread of MERS, has been made an adviser to the Royal Court, the decree said.

Saudi Arabia has reported 244 cases of MERS since the disease was identified in 2012, of which 79 have been fatal. The spread of new infections slowed during the winter, but there has been a sudden increase in cases this month.

Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah gestures during a news conference in Riyadh

The 49 confirmed infections announced over the past week, mostly in the port city of Jeddah, represent a four-fold increase in the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak began. The authorities have at times struggled to counter swirling rumors on social media that they have not been transparent about how far the disease has spread and how effective are the preventative measures taken in hospitals.

Last week the cabinet told Saudi news outlets to report only those cases that had been officially confirmed in laboratory tests by the Health Ministry. On Sunday, Rabeeah said he thought the sudden spurt of new cases in Jeddah might have a seasonal cause, given there was also an uptick in infections about a year ago, but added that he had "no idea" why that might be.

Saudi Arabia Replaces Health Minister Amid MERS Fears

 

[aris2chat]

MERS causes shuffling of Saudi cabinet...

Saudi Arabia Replaces Health Minister Amid MERS Fears
April 21, 2014 — Saudi Arabian King Abdullah removed Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah from his post on Monday as the kingdom grapples with a worrying surge of new cases of the SARS-like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). His duties will be taken over by Labor Minister Adel Fakieh, who keeps his current post, state television reported.

The television channel cited the king's royal decree in its report but gave no reason for the switch. Rabeeah, who on Sunday told a televised news conference there was no medical reason to impose stricter preventative measures against the spread of MERS, has been made an adviser to the Royal Court, the decree said.

Saudi Arabia has reported 244 cases of MERS since the disease was identified in 2012, of which 79 have been fatal. The spread of new infections slowed during the winter, but there has been a sudden increase in cases this month.

Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah gestures during a news conference in Riyadh

The 49 confirmed infections announced over the past week, mostly in the port city of Jeddah, represent a four-fold increase in the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak began. The authorities have at times struggled to counter swirling rumors on social media that they have not been transparent about how far the disease has spread and how effective are the preventative measures taken in hospitals.

Last week the cabinet told Saudi news outlets to report only those cases that had been officially confirmed in laboratory tests by the Health Ministry. On Sunday, Rabeeah said he thought the sudden spurt of new cases in Jeddah might have a seasonal cause, given there was also an uptick in infections about a year ago, but added that he had "no idea" why that might be.

Saudi Arabia Replaces Health Minister Amid MERS Fears

With 20 new cases, someone better start asking the right questions and make some useful changes

 

[waltky]

MERS spreads to Egypt...

Egypt Reports First Case of MERS Virus
April 26, 2014 ~ Egyptian authorities have detected the country's first case of the deadly SARS-like virus called the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS.

Egypt's state-run news says a 27-year-old Egyptian who recently traveled to Saudi Arabia tested positive for the disease Saturday morning. Doctors are treating him at Cairo hospital. The virus has hit Saudi Arabia particularly hard. Saudi Arabia's health ministry says 92 people have died and 313 have contracted the virus in the country since September 2012.

Doctor Amr Kandeel, chief of Egypt's Health Ministry Preventative Sector, had warned just days ago of the probability for a MERS outbreak in Egypt, given the frequent travel by Egyptians to Saudi Arabia's religious sites. He also noted the virus is present is some Egyptian camels.

The disease is believed to have crossed over to humans from camels. MERS belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that includes SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which in 2003 killed some 800 people in a global outbreak. There is no vaccine or treatment for the MERS virus, and doctors are not sure how it is transmitted.

Egypt Reports First Case of MERS Virus

 

[Moonglow]

They should stop kissing the camels....

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - is dat end time plague inna Bible - we all gonna die...

Saudi Death Toll from MERS Virus Climbs to 102
April 27, 2014 ~ Saudi authorities confirm 10 more deaths from the mysterious MERS virus, putting the death toll since the disease first surfaced at 102.

Eight deaths were reported Sunday after two on Saturday. The nation's health ministry says there are now 339 confirmed cases of MERS since it was first found in Saudi Arabia two years ago. One case also has been confirmed in Egypt, in a man who recently traveled to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi pharmacists report a run on masks, hand sanitizers and other disinfectants. Some parents are keeping their children home from school. Three hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam have been designated as special MERS treatment centers.

MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, is related to the SARS virus, which has killed more than 800 people worldwide. But experts know little about MERS and there is no known vaccine. They are unsure how the virus is transmitted, but believe it may have originated in camels.

Saudi Death Toll from MERS Virus Climbs to 102

 

[aris2chat]

75% of camels have had the virus. With air travel it take so little for this to get global.


The MERS Virus Epidemic Is Just Waiting To Happen, And There’s No Cure
inquisitr.com/1229267/the-mers-virus-epidemic-is-just-waiting-to-happen-and-theres-no-cure/

Middle Eastern Respiratory Coronavirus or as it widely known, the MERS Virus has been suddenly spreading its wings and the fallout is being witnessed in multiple countries.

In what could very well turn out to be the next Swine flu or Bird flu epidemic, there have been confirmed reports of the virus in new countries including Egypt, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Scientists are unable to confirm exactly why the MERS virus has suddenly jumped several thousand kilometers.

First identified in late 2012, The Inquisitr recently reported the sudden eruption of the MERS virus in Cairo Egypt. What was equally baffling was the fact that people suffering from the MERS virus weren’t displaying typical symptoms. However, doctors narrowed on the diagnoses from the fact that the infected patient had recently traveled through Saudi Arabia.

The MERS virus typically causes symptoms like acute respiratory illness and shortness of breath. However, if not quickly identified or treated, it can cause kidney failures resulting in hospitalization or even death. The MERS virus belongs to the SARS virus family and hence may be sometimes confused with symptoms that are normally found during a common cold, reports abc News.

Public health experts have been tracking the disease for almost two years, but it is only in the recent weeks, there has been a very sharp rise in cases, ringing alarm bells at immigration counters and medical facilities.

So far there have been 350 cases and more than 100 deaths reported worldwide from the virus, but World Health Organization (WHO) has laboratory-confirmed only 254 cases with 93 deaths. Nonetheless, the MERS virus is now being suspected of being capable of mutation and that could be one possible reason for the sharp rise in infections, reports Reuters.

 

[Moonglow]

I wonder if those milking the camels are immune?

 

[aris2chat]

As MERS spreads further towards urban point where it might be able to grow and become a pandemic.
If Israel could find a treatment or cure, would they actually take it? It took more than 60 yrs to get them to take the polio vaccine.

Jordan records two new MERS infections
arabnews.com/news/564131
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Published — Thursday 1 May 2014

AMMAN: Two new infections from MERS coronavirus have been detected in Jordan, the health ministry said, one a Saudi man and the other a Jordanian medic who was treating him.State news agency Petra which carried the report said this brought to seven the total number of people who were diagnosed in Jordan with the disease known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome since 2012.Health ministry official Mohammad Abdallat told Petra that the Saudi man aged 25 was being treated in a private Amman hospital."The Jordanian medic, 28 got infected while he was treating the Saudi patient. He is in a stable condition," Abdallat, who heads the ministry's communicable disease unit, said.Jordan reported the first death of MERS virus this year in February, after two previous fatalities in 2012.MERS first emerged in 2012 and is mostly focused on Saudi Arabia where it has killed 107 people, according to health officials in the Kingdom.Saudi health authorities said Wednesday that the number of those diagnosed with the disease had risen to 361.

 

[Mr. H.]

It's here...

MERS makes first U.S. appearance, in Indiana - CNN.com

 

[aris2chat]

First Case Of Mysterious MERS Virus In America Confirmed By The CDC

Air travel make it possible for it to spread quickly

 

[waltky]

Is MERS the next SARS?...

Is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) the Next SARS?
05.03.14 ~ The first U.S. case of MERS landed in Indiana—smack-dab in the heartland. Is it time to panic?

More than 7,000 miles: this is the linear distance from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Munster, Indiana, the location of the first American case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The carrier, a health care provider, flew from Riyadh to Chicago, by way of London, and then boarded a bus to Indiana. One of the initial challenges to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be precisely tracing his journey and all individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. This is no simple task, but one that the CDC is somewhat familiar with. (You may recall that the CDC had to conduct the same surveillance for patients diagnosed with SARS several years ago.)

The virus, MERS-CoV, belongs to a family of coronaviruses (CoV) and causes a series of symptoms. It was originally reported in Saudi Arabia in April 2012. The CDC reports 401 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, with 93 deaths. This virus’ high mortality rate—nearly 25 percent—and limited treatment options make it especially concerning to public health officials. MERS conjures frightening memories of the 2003 SARS outbreak that originated in Hong Kong. There are similarities: Both are zoonotic viruses—meaning the virus acquired a mutation to jump from an animal host reservoir to a human host. The animal reservoir for SARS is bats, whereas the reservoir for MERS is primarily camels. Both are severe respiratory illnesses and the majority of symptoms revolve around progressive difficulty with breathing, oxygenation, and systemic infection.

However, there are important differences. MERS patients tend to harbor preexisting health conditions and are much more likely to succumb to a MERS-CoV infection than a patient with SARS-CoV infection. Specifically, the CDC reports that from Nov 2002—July 2003 approximately 8,098 people were afflicted with SARS and 774 people died, a mortality rate of less than 10 percent. While it is concerning that this virus has made its way all the way to the United States, it is even more important to be aware of the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of MERS. Common symptoms of MERS include fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath. Muscle pain and gastrointestinal issues have also been noted. These symptoms can indicate a variety of much more common ailments than MERS, but the WHO is advising physicians to test patients who have returned from the Middle East within two weeks of falling ill. The transmission of MERS is still under investigation. Researchers calculate that 75 percent of recent cases are “secondary cases,” meaning infected individuals have acquired the virus from another infected person. It is important to note that the majority of secondary cases are healthcare workers exposed to patients sick with MERS.

There isn’t a cure for MERS, but patients may be supported with breathing machines and antibiotics for potential secondary bacterial infections. However, just as the curative treatment for the virus causing the common cold is elusive, there is no cure for MERS and doctors do their best to allow the patient’s immune system to gain the upper hand over the virus. The absence of a cure makes prevention an imperative consideration. Organizations such as the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) encourage appropriate hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing, avoiding livestock, and maintaining proper food hygiene procedures. Though it is curious that the first case of MERS emerged in the heart of the United States, it is important to note that the risk of significant transmission of MERS in America is actually quite low. This travel-linked event brings to light a paradigm that public health officials have accepted: in an increasingly interconnected world, infectious diseases can make enormous geographic leaps with ease.

Is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) the Next SARS? - The Daily Beast

See also:

Indiana health officials: MERS patient improving
4 May`14 — A man hospitalized in Indiana with the first U.S. case of a mysterious virus that has sickened hundreds in the Middle East is improving, state health officials said Saturday.

The Indiana Department of Health said in a statement late Saturday that the patient remains at Community Hospital in Munster in good condition and is "improving each day." The statement also said that as of Saturday, no other cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, have been identified. Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention arrived at the hospital Saturday morning. The man fell ill with Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, after flying to the U.S. late last week from Saudi Arabia, where he was a health care worker. Calls to Community Hospital in Munster, in northwest Indiana, referred the media to the Borshoff public relations firm in Indianapolis, where spokeswoman Andrea Farmer said the hospital does not plan to give daily updates. The man was listed in good condition on Friday.

A Purdue University biology professor said Saturday the illness's presence in Indiana shows why research about the coronavirus family that causes everything from the common cold to MERS to SARS is important. "We really need to understand the differences in these coronaviruses so we can have ... therapeutics or know how to make vaccines, a lot like we do with the flu now," Andrew Mesecar said. Mesecar is part of a team at the West Lafayette university that has been working to develop a pill that would help people who have been infected with SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, recover and help protect those who know they have been exposed to it. In 2003, SARS killed hundreds of people, mostly in Asia, in a short-lived outbreak.

Gov. Mike Pence said Friday the Indiana Department of Health is working to track the MERS case and to assess the risk to the public and to prevent the spread of the virus. Pence encouraged those who may have been exposed to the virus to report symptoms to their medical provider. Federal and state health officials on Friday said the man flew from Saudi Arabia to the United States on April 24, with a stop in London. He landed in Chicago and took a bus to Indiana. He didn't become sick until Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. He went to the emergency room at Community Hospital with a fever, cough and shortness of breath.

J. Eric Dietz, director of Purdue Homeland Security Institute and the former executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, said the smartest thing people worried about MERS can do is take routine precautions, such as washing hand regularly and avoiding others who are sick. "If you have to provide caregiving for somebody when they're sick, then step up the hand-washing," he said. "Wipe down surfaces with anti-bacterial or chlorine wipes to try to make sure the contact hazard isn't quite so severe." Mesecar said he doesn't think people should be too concerned about MERS if they haven't been to the Middle East or had contact with someone from the Middle East. MERS can spread from person to person, but officials believe that happens only after close contact. Mesecar said officials haven't yet been able to define exactly what close contact means, saying they do know someone sitting in the front of a plane doesn't have to worry about catching it from someone in the back of the plane. "It's hard to define that right now," he said.

Indiana health officials: MERS patient improving

 

[aris2chat]

111 deaths in saudi and cases showing up in the west. It was known that the virus can be passed from camels to humans, but now there seems to be a scare on meat.

>>Butcher shops and restaurants have reported a decline in the sale of camel meat after Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih advised residents not to consume camel meat and milk as a preventive measure against the MERS coronavirus.
Fahad Al-Sulami, the owner of a popular restaurant, said that less people have been ordering camel meat after reports surfaced tracing the coronavirus back to the animals.
“Many restaurants and kitchens have been forced to refrain from purchasing camel meat,” he said. “This will likely lead to a decline in the price of dishes containing camel meat and camels themselves.”
Khaled Al-Balawi, a livestock trader, predicted that statements will force some cattle traders to stop dealing with camels and thus cause a 50-percent decline in prices, bringing the price of a small camel down from SR2,500 to SR1,200.
Abdul Rahman Albelai, a teacher who enjoys routinely eating camel meat and drinking camel milk, said his fears of getting infected with coronavirus has made him stop consuming camel derivatives.
Albelai used to eat camel products on a daily basis and regularly visited camel farms on the outskirts of Jeddah to buy fresh camel dairy.
“Customers have completely stopped buying camel meat at Saad Al-Thamali’s restaurant,” he said.
Coronavirus fears have led some to stop eating meat altogether.
“One customer said he stopped buying or eating meat temporarily because he believes that the meat may be cross contaminated,” said Al-Thamali.
“There has been much speculation about the link between the coronavirus and camels, but after the recent clear statement made by the acting health minister, customers should follow this advice in order to reduce the spread of the virus,” said Omar Lahibi, a sales manager of frozen meat products.
He said he would not only stop buying camel meat from butcher shops or restaurants, but would also avoid consuming any products with camel meat or milk.
The Jeddah Municipality recently removed more than 500 camel barns and sprayed disinfectants at their former locations as per recommendations made by a joint committee composed of several government sectors.
Mohammed Al-Buqami, Jeddah Municipality spokesman, said the ministry began uprooting these barns on Thursday.
Inspection tours took place on King Abdullah Road, Usfan road and along the industrial zone.<< http://www.arabnews.com/news/565971

 

[waltky]

Is an extraordinary virus...

Could Existing Drugs Be Used to Treat Deadly MERS Virus?
May 07, 2014 ~ A lethal new virus that originated in the Middle East is spreading and there is no drug to fight it.

Or is there? Scientists are scouring the medicine cabinet for existing drugs to fight Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and they're finding some unexpected candidates. In lab studies, drugs against cancer, neurological disorders and other ailments show promise to help treat MERS. Why would a cancer drug stop a virus? Scientists don’t necessarily know. But the fact that they work at all is helping researchers understand previously unknown ways in which the drugs -- and the viruses -- function.

'Extraordinary' virus

MERS has killed about a quarter of the roughly 500 people infected since it was first detected in 2012. “The mortality rate is extraordinary,” said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. “That’s unheard of with common respiratory infections. That’s the very, very sobering news about this. The somewhat encouraging news so far is that it is not readily spread from person to person.” The virus that causes MERS is related to the SARS virus that erupted out of China in 2003. SARS killed about 10 percent of its approximately 8,000 victims but it was much more contagious than MERS is. Experts are keeping a close eye on MERS in case it mutates to become more infectious.

Long wait for new drugs

Doctors have little to offer MERS patients. There are no drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And developing a new drug is time-consuming and expensive. Virologist Matt Frieman at the University of Maryland at Baltimore says candidates that work well in a test tube often do not work in living cells. “And the ones that do, when you now take them from a cell to an animal model of the disease, most of them don’t work,” he said.

Drugs that are effective in animal tests still need to go through three stages of clinical trials to be sure they help sick people without doing more harm than good. “Starting from scratch, to go from basic research in an academic lab to getting a product licensed by the FDA, can take a decade and tons and tons of money,” said immunologist Erik Stemmy, who oversees MERS research grants for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Robot testing

 

[aris2chat]

Saudi Arabia identifies 32 new cases of MERS virus - Healthcare - ArabianBusiness.com

32 new cases in Saudi. Lebanon has also reported they have at least one case.