Deadly new SARS-like virus reported in outbreak in Middle East: 2 dead!!!

A new coronavirus from the same family as SARS has now infected six people in the Middle East, two of whom have died, the World Health Organization announced Friday. The UN health agency said four new cases have been confirmed, in addition to a previous patient from Saudi Arabia, who died in June, and another one from Qatar still undergoing treatment in the United Kingdom. Three of the new cases are Saudis - and two are family members who lived together, the WHO said in a news release. One died and the other is recovering. Two other relatives of that family have also shown the pneumonia-like symptoms of the novel coronavirus. One relative died but laboratory results have not yet confirmed whether he or she had the virus; the second relative is recovering and tested negative. The fourth of the new cases is a Qatari citizen, according to the WHO. On Friday, Germany’s national health institute also announced a German clinic had been treating a Qatari patient with the novel coronavirus, who fell ill in October and was released this week. So far, there is no evidence that the virus is easily transmitted between humans, as was the case with the deadly SARS outbreak in 2003 that swept across 30 countries and killed approximately 800 people, including 44 Torontonians.

It is possible that animals were the source of infection and early investigations show that the novel coronavirus is closely related to one found in bats. Nevertheless, the case of the Saudi Arabian family with multiple illnesses is raising some flags. "The timing of the cases in the Saudi cluster does raise that concern (of human-to-human transmission)," said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib. "But when a cluster occurs in a setting such as a household, where everyone has similar environmental exposures, it can be very difficult to separate out exposure to the same environmental source versus spread from one person to another. "Investigations are ongoing to try and answer this question, however, if (human-to-human transmission) has occurred, it does not appear to be sustained." As a precaution, the WHO is now urging increased surveillance for the novel coronavirus, recommending that all patients with unexplained pneumonias be tested, even those who have not recently travelled to Saudi Arabia or Qatar. "Until more information is available, it is prudent to consider that the virus is likely more widely distributed than just the two countries which have identified cases," the WHO said. The deadly potential of coronaviruses first became apparent in 2003 with the outbreak of SARS. The virus, named for its crown-like appearance, had been previously associated with the common cold. This new coronavirus - given the scientific name HCoV-EMC - first emerged over the summer, although scientists at the time did not know what it was.
Biohazard name: HCoV-EMC
Biohazard level: 4/4 Hazardous
Biohazard desc.: Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release.
Symptoms:
Status: confirmed
[link to hisz.rsoe.hu]

Updated: Monday, 26 November, 2012 at 17:35 UTC
Description
Four new cases of infection from a SARS-like virus have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the last weeks. In a statement released by the organization last week, the four cases, which occurred in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, bring the total number of cases up to six. While only half a dozen cases have been confirmed, WHO cautions the SARS-like virus is likely more widespread than just the two countries it has been reported in. “WHO continues to work with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other international health partners to gain a better understanding of the novel coronavirus and the disease in humans. Further epidemiological and scientific studies are needed to better understand the virus,� said WHO in the statement. The novel coronavirus was first reported in late September 2012, reports Reuters, when a man became infected with an unknown virus after visiting Saudi Arabia where another man had died from the disease.

The novel coronavirus is being compared to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a respiratory disease originating in China. Of the 8,000 people SARS infected worldwide, approximately one-tenth died from the condition, with others suffering from symptoms of difficulty breathing, high fever and coughing. The SARS-like virus presents similar symptoms but the development and transmission of it still remain unknown. The mode of transportation for the SARS-like virus remains a mystery, though experts have linked two cases with human-to-human contact. “Investigations are ongoing in areas of epidemiology, clinical management, and virology, to look into the likely source of infection, the route of exposure, and the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus,� said WHO. “Close contacts of the recently confirmed cases are being identified and followed-up.� While the SARS-like virus remains a concern for health organizations around the world, coronaviruses are not new to humans or animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs) have been identified in people and animals since the early 1960s. Usually most severe in younger patients, the viruses typically cause hepatic, neurologic, respiratory, and enteric disease symptoms. Coronaviruses are particularly common in dogs and cats, and the preliminary vaccination series for kittens and puppies often contains coronavirus protection.
[link to hisz.rsoe.hu]

Big long complicated paragraph kills GLP readers everywhere.

Why do they bring these people to the UK and Germany for treatment? Looks like they want to spread the virus in Europe.

Four new cases of infection from a SARS-like virus have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the last weeks. In a statement released by the organization last week, the four cases, which occurred in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, bring the total number of cases up to six. While only half a dozen cases have been confirmed, WHO cautions the SARS-like virus is likely more widespread than just the two countries it has been reported in. Two deaths now...

well don't give them bad ideas!

Posted this on the 25;

Thread: Something to watch ? -corona virus-