Novel coronavirus infection (NCoV) ? update (WHO, May 14 2013)

[Giuseppe]

[Source: World Health Organization, full page: (LINK). Edited.]

Novel coronavirus infection ? update

14 May 2013


The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has informed WHO of an additional four laboratory-confirmed cases with infection of the novel coronavirus (NCoV).

The first patient was a 69-year-old woman with multiple coexisting medical conditions who became ill on 25 April 2013 and has died.

The second patient is a 48-year-old man with multiple coexisting medical conditions who became ill on 24 April 2013, and is in critical condition.

The third patient is an 81-year-old man with multiple coexisting medical conditions, who became ill on 26 April 2013, and is in critical condition.

The fourth patient is a 56-year-old man with multiple coexisting medical conditions, who became ill on 7 May 2013. He has recovered and has been discharged from hospital.

Since the beginning of May to date, a total of 19 patients, including nine deaths have been reported from the outbreak primarily linked to a health care facility in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia.

The government is conducting ongoing investigation into the outbreak.

From September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a global total of 38 laboratory confirmed cases of human infection with nCoV, including 20 deaths.

Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.

Health care providers are advised to be vigilant among recent travelers returning from areas affected by the virus who develop severe SARI. Specimens from patients? lower respiratory tracts should be obtained for diagnosis where possible. Clinicians are reminded that nCoV infection should be considered even with atypical signs and symptoms in patients who are significantly immune compromised.

All Member States are reminded to promptly assess and notify WHO of any new case of infection with nCoV, along with information about potential exposures that may have resulted in infection and a description of the clinical course.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

WHO continues to closely monitor the situation.

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[sharon sanders]

Re: Novel coronavirus infection (NCoV) ? update (WHO, May 14 2013)

The WHO update before this one dated May 9 mentions 18 deaths.

This update says 20 but only adds 1 death in the body of the text.

So we are missing details about another death.

[Catbird]

Re: Novel coronavirus infection (NCoV) ? update (WHO, May 14 2013)

Hopefully, the WHO or someone can provide some detail, or at least verify the accuracy of the info on this case:

The fourth patient is a 56-year-old man with multiple coexisting medical conditions, who became ill on 7 May 2013. He has recovered and has been discharged from hospital.

He became ill AND recovered in 7 days? Does this represent a case of a milder form of NCoV (something that hasn't yet been confirmed as occurring) or was there some other factor involved?

[Giuseppe]

Re: Novel coronavirus infection (NCoV) ? update (WHO, May 14 2013)

United Kingdom cluster

From Eurosurveillance: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=20427

(..)

Case 3 and her contacts

Case 3 is an adult female family member of Case 1 who lived in a different household and had not recently travelled abroad. She was exposed to Case 1 only while visiting him in hospital on three separate occasions from 1 to 4 February for a cumulative period of 2.5 hours, during which full PPE was not worn. During these visits Case 1 was intubated on a closed ventilator circuit. Case 3 had no contact with Case 2 while he was unwell.

Case 3 developed a self-limiting influenza-like illness starting on 5 February, one day after her last contact with Case 1. She did not require medical attendance for her illness and fully recovered after nine days.

She tested positive for nCoV on a single sputum sample taken on 13 February and positive for type 2 parainfluenza virus on a nose and throat swab taken on 15 February. Serology results are awaited.

(...)


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[Laidback Al]

Re: Novel coronavirus infection (NCoV) ? update (WHO, May 14 2013)

The Missing Death is in Saudi Arabia

As of May 12th, the Deputy Health Minister stated there were 9 deaths reported among the recent cases in the outbreak in the eastern province.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Two more people have died from novel coronavirus, a new strain of the virus similar to the one that caused SARS, in an outbreak in al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia, the deputy health minister for public health said on Sunday.

Ziad Memish said that in the latest cluster of infections, 15 cases had been confirmed, and nine of those patients had died.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health...,1937226.story

Among those cases, only eight deaths have been identified by officials or WHO. The ninth death from this group is most likely FT case number 32 identified as 48 year-old Zaki Moaibed. (link)

Another reporting discrepancy is the 69F who died. No date of death is provided, although she is reported to have symptom onset on April 25, 2013. According to this media report (link) the woman was ill and treated for a "month" before dying.

With less than 25 infected patients in Al Ahsa Governorate, how hard is it to keep track of which patients are alive and which have died?

[Catbird]

Re: Novel coronavirus infection (NCoV) ? update (WHO, May 14 2013)

...

Case 3 developed a self-limiting influenza-like illness starting on 5 February, one day after her last contact with Case 1. She did not require medical attendance for her illness and fully recovered after nine days.

She tested positive for nCoV on a single sputum sample taken on 13 February and positive for type 2 parainfluenza virus on a nose and throat swab taken on 15 February. Serology results are awaited.

(...)


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Thanks for that.

I had forgotten about that case. It would be interesting to be able to compare the specifics of both cases.