Category Archives: pandemic

The White Death, Revived – In The Fray

Paul Nunn, the WHO’s TB coordinator, says that these deadly strains have cropped up in certain European countries, too, though the reports have yet to be published. “If the health system of the world fails, the highly resistant strains will replace the old,” he adds. “We’ll see a worsening of the situation if nothing is done.” On the other hand, it may be only when the resistant strains become a major problem in rich countries that the profit-seeking pharmaceutical industry will take notice and pour real money into the development of potent new treatments.

Without effective drugs to combat the most resistant strains, doctors may have to revert to remedies from an earlier era. Udwadia recalls his first patient with untreatable TB. Twenty-six years old, she had spent the last five years trying a variety of anti-TB drugs, all of which had failed. As a last resort, she underwent a pneumonectomy, a high-risk medical procedure to remove a lung. The woman later died of complications from the surgery. The procedure had not been used on tuberculosis patients since the introduction of antibiotic treatments six decades ago.

via The White Death, Revived – In The Fray.

Fresh Ebola cases discovered in Guinea – Africa – News – StarAfrica.com

The Guinean government has announced three fresh, new cases of Ebola fever two of which were discovered in Telimele in Lower Guinea and one in Gueckedou in the forest region.The discovery brings the overall number of deaths to 95 out of 146 cases, according to the latest statement by the Health Ministry on Friday.

via Fresh Ebola cases discovered in Guinea – Africa – News – StarAfrica.com.

Saudis report 8 MERS cases; 2nd US patient released | CIDRAP

Saudi Arabia reported eight more MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases yesterday and today, three of them causing no symptoms, and Florida officials announced today that the second US MERS patient has been released from an Orlando hospital.

The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) said five earlier MERS patients have died. The new cases and fatalities raised the country’s MERS count to 537 cases and 173 deaths.

via Saudis report 8 MERS cases; 2nd US patient released | CIDRAP.

Avian Flu Diary: Saudi MOH Announces 9 New MERS Cases

 

 

Daily Report of (MERS-CoV) Cases

As of Saturday, May 17th, 2014 corresponding to Rajab 18th, 1435H,

12 pm Local Time in Makkah

Total numbers of confirmed cases in last 24 hours : 9 cases

Recovered and discharged cases that previously tested positive and are now negative: 1 case

The total number of deaths: 5 from previously confirmed cases

Overview of the Health Status of the Cases:

6 stable cases

1 case without symptoms

2 critical cases in the ICU

Summary of the cases:

a) In Riyadh:

A 36-year-old female currently isolated in a government hospital. She has been in contact with a positive case and does not have any symptoms.

A 27-year-old female developed respiratory symptoms on May 16th, 2014. She was admitted to a government hospital on the same day. Her condition is stable.

b) In Jeddah:

A 58-year-old female developed respiratory symptoms on May 11th, 2014. She was admitted to a government hospital on May 13th, 2014. Her condition is stable.

A 33-year-old female developed respiratory symptoms on April 27th, 2014. She was admitted to a government hospital on May 2nd, 2014. The first two tests for MERS were negative. The third test came back positive on May 16th, 2014. Her condition is stable.

A 29-year-old male developed mild respiratory symptoms on May 13th, 2014. He is currently in home isolation.

c) In Al-Madinah:

A 36-year-old male developed fever on May 11th, 2014. On May 13th, 2014 he was admitted to a government hospital. He was discharged against medical advice on May 15th, 2014. He was admitted to another government hospital on May 16th, 2014. His condition is stable.

A 37-year-old male developed respiratory symptoms on May 6th, 2014. On May 10th, 2014 he visited the ER in a government hospital, but he refused to get tested for MERS-CoV. On May 16th, 2014 he was admitted to another government hospital. He is currently in the ICU.

A 28-year-old female developed respiratory symptoms on May 16th , 2014. She was admitted o a government hospital on the same day. Her condition is stable.

d) In Makkah:

A 55-year-old male, suffering from chronic renal failure, developed respiratory symptoms on May 15th, 2014. He was admitted to a government hospital on the same day. He is currently in the ICU.

Deaths from Previously Reported Cases:

An 80-year-old female was admitted to a government hospital in Jeddah.  Her case was reported on May 11th, 2014. She passed away on May 11th, 2014. May Allah have mercy upon her.

A 67-year-old male was admitted to a government hospital in Jeddah. His case was reported on April 23th, 2014. He passed away on May 16th, 2014. May Allah have mercy upon him.

A 55-year-old male was admitted to a government hospital in Jeddah. His case was reported on May 1st, 2014. He passed away on May 16th, 2014. May Allah have mercy upon him.

A 71-year-old male was admitted to a government hospital in Riyadh. His case was reported on May 14th, 2014. He passed away on May 16th, 2014. May Allah have mercy upon him.

A 77-year-old male was admitted to a government hospital in Al-Madinah. His case was reported on May 7th, 2014. He passed away on May 16th, 2014. May Allah have mercy upon him.

Recovered and Discharged Cases that Previously Tested Positive and are Now Negative:

A 26-year-old female was discharged from a private hospital in Jeddah on May 16th, 2014.

via Avian Flu Diary: Saudi MOH Announces 9 New MERS Cases.

Avian Flu Diary: RIVM On 2nd Dutch MERS Case

Second MERS -patient in the Netherlands

Publication Date:15-05-2014

Today, May 15, 2014, is a second Dutch patients infected with the MERS coronavirus identified. The woman is a relative of the man who is diagnosed with yesterday. She also has become contaminated during the same trip to Saudi Arabia. She is listed in Isala Zwolle and nursed in strict isolation. Her health condition is stable. All the people who have had contact with the patient are mapped by the health department. These people’s health condition is monitored.

via Avian Flu Diary: RIVM On 2nd Dutch MERS Case.

Avian Flu Diary: KSA MOH: 16 New MERS Cases

The total number of the confirmed cases over the past 24 hours: 16 cases

Recovered and discharged cases that previously tested positive and are now negative: 3 cases

The total number of deaths: 5 cases (2 cases were recorded over the past 24 hours and the other 3 are from previously confirmed cases)

Overview of the Health Status of the Cases:

5 stable cases

3 cases without symptoms

6 cases in the ICU

2 deaths

via Avian Flu Diary: KSA MOH: 16 New MERS Cases.

Two U.S. health workers ill after MERS exposure; World Health Organization meets | Reuters

Two health workers at a Florida hospital exposed to a patient with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have begun showing flu-like symptoms, raising concerns about the ability of global health authorities to contain the mysterious and deadly virus.

The World Health Organization convened an emergency meeting in Geneva on Tuesday to decide whether the rising rate of confirmed cases, most of them in Saudi Arabia, constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern.”

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 the two medical facilities he visited.

via Two U.S. health workers ill after MERS exposure; World Health Organization meets | Reuters.

Avian Flu Diary: CDC : 2nd Imported MERS Case Confirmed In Florida

Avian Flu Diary: CDC : 2nd Imported MERS Case Confirmed In Florida.

 

The unidentified HCW left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and flew to London on May 1st, and began to feel unwell on the flight.  He then flew on to Boston, then Atlanta, and finally arrived in Orlando Florida. The CDC is doing airline contact tracing for those who may have had close exposure to this patient (a number that could approach 500 contacts on US flights alone).

The patient went to a local Emergency Room on May 8th, was admitted, and state public health testing subsequently identified this patient as being infected with the virus.   The CDC confirmed the results last night.

The press conference was conducted by CDC director Dr. Tom FriedenDr. Anne Schuchat, and Florida Surgeon General John H. Armstrong, who all stressed that the risk to the general public is extremely low.