USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

[sharon sanders]

VIA EMAIL

Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
Friday, May 2, 2014

Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

CDC announces first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS-CoV) in the United States


WHAT: CDC and the Indiana State Department of Heath are conducting a joint investigation of the first case of MERS-CoV in the United States. MERS-CoV, a virus new to humans, was first reported in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012.


WHO: Anne Schuchat, M.D. (RADM, USPHS) Assistant Surgeon General, United States Public Health Service; Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Pamela Pontones, State Epidemiologist, Indiana State Department of Health

WHEN: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. ET

DIAL-IN: Listen-only: 877-546-1574
PASSCODE: CDC MEDIA
* Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.


Transcript
A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media.

[sharon sanders]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

new email with the following info:


WHEN: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. ET

DIAL-IN: Media: 888-795-0855
Non-Media: 877-546-1574
INTERNATIONAL: 630-395-0427
PASSCODE: CDC MEDIA
* Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.

[tetano]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

NDIANA (May 2, 2014) — The first U.S. case of MERS-CoV has been reported in Indiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.



The CDC and Indiana health officials say the patient is a health care provider who recently traveled from Saudi Arabia. They are calling the case a “rapidly evolving situation.” The CDC also says they would not be surprised if additional MERS cases are identified. They are approaching the situation with “an abundance of caution.”

The patient flew from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to London, England and then to Chicago on April 24. From Chicago the patient took a bus to Indiana. On the 27th, the patient began to experience respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, and fever. The patient went to an emergency department in an Indiana hospital on April 28th and was admitted on that same day. The patient is being well cared for and is isolated.

The patient is in the hospital in stable condition and requires oxygen.

“We’ve anticipated MERS reaching the US, and we’ve prepared for and are taking swift action,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “We’re doing everything possible with hospital, local, and state health officials to find people who may have had contact with this person so they can be evaluated as appropriate. This case reminds us that we are all connected by the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. We can break the chain of transmission in this case through focused efforts here and abroad.”

http://fox59.com/2014/05/02/first-us-case-of-mers-reported-in-indiana/

[sharon sanders]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

Tweets from conference. Please read from bottom up:

FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 1m
Conference is over. Media who did not get question opportunity directed to media gatekeepers. #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 2m
Officials declining to give even a regional area in Indiana in response to a repeated question re: location of hospital #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 8m
Patient is a health care worker from Riyadh & traveled from Riyadh #coronavirus #MERS


RETWEETED BY FLUTRACKERS.COM
Lisa Schnirring @lisaschnirring · 13m
@FluTrackers ISDH tweet says northwestern Indiana


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 12m
Focusing on health care and close contacts of this patient #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 13m
No animal or camel exposure of this patient confirmed at this point #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 14m
Laboratory confirmation was this afternoon #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 15m
Patient was providing health care in #Saudi Arabia. Symptom onset after arrival. #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 19m
Officials are declining to report city, location of the ill patient #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 20m
Where in Indiana a reporter asks... #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 25m
Working with DHS and airline to directly reach the contacts of the patient #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 26m
Following up on contacts of #coronavirus #MERS patients through travel system


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 28m
Indiana patient is receiving oxygen support but not on respirator #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 29m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.:Health providers should be watching 4 people who have traveled through #coronavirus #MERS area & have respiratory probs


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 30m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: Follow standard disease avoidance precautions..wash hands etc. #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 31m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: Onset April 27, hospitalized April 28 - precautions are now in place to stop spread #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 33m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: April 24 - patient from Riyadh to London, then to Chicago - bus to Indiana #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 34m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: Virus has been seen in health care settings in clusters #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 35m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: No evidence of sustained human to human transmission #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 35m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: There is no vaccine #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 37m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: People with pre-existing conditions are at elevated risk #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 38m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: Imported case - health care worker from #Saudi - isolated, stable condition in Indiana #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 40m
#USA - #coronavirus media conference starting...Tom Skinner making introductions... #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 50m
#USA Media conference about 1st known #coronavirus conference starts in 3 minutes http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d=1#post533591 … #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers · 1h
#USA - CDC announces 1st case of #coronavirus #MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014 http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...590#post533590 …

[Giuseppe]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

Tweets from conference. Please read from bottom up:

(...)


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers ? 31m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: Onset April 27, hospitalized April 28 - precautions are now in place to stop spread #coronavirus #MERS


FluTrackers.com @FluTrackers ? 33m
Anne Schuchat, M.D.: April 24 - patient from Riyadh to London, then to Chicago - bus to Indiana #coronavirus #MERS

(...)

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...590#post533590 ?

If we keep for true this statement from recent WHO risk assessment:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222154

(...)

Incubation period: 2 ‐ 14 days

Period of infectivity: patients can shed the virus after resolution of symptoms, but the duration of infectivity is unknown.

Patients are not contagious during the incubation period.

Asymptomatic cases might not be contagious.

Case and contact definition: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coron...definition/en/

(...)


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[Giuseppe]

Press release: Case of suspected MERS-CoV detected on flight throught London (Public Health England, May 2 2014)

[Source: Public Health England, full page: (LINK).]


Press release: Case of suspected MERS-CoV detected on flight throught London


Public Health England was today advised of a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) in a person flying from Riyadh to Chicago and transiting through London on Thursday, April 24 2014. Positive diagnosis was confirmed by the United States Centre for Disease Control on Friday evening (UK time).

The passenger, who is not a UK national, was on British Airways Flight 262 from Riyadh to London, and transferred at Heathrow for onward travel to the USA, where they were later hospitalised with suspected MERS-CoV.

The risk of the infection being passed to other passengers on Flight 262 is extremely low.

However, as a precautionary measure, Public Health England has contacted UK passengers who were sitting in the vicinity of the affected passenger to provide health information.

Any UK based passengers on Flight 262 on April 24 who have since become unwell or experienced respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath are advised to contact NHS 111.

PHE will also work with the US health authorities to contact any UK passengers on the April 24 onward flight from London to Chicago, American Airlines Flight 99.

The period between exposure and when symptoms might develop (the incubation period) for MERS-CoV is currently considered to be up to 14 days.

Any illness that passengers might experience more than 14 days after the flight (i.e. starting on or after Friday 9 May), would not be considered to be related.

There is presently no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of MERS-CoV, and the risk of contracting infection in the UK remains very low.

MERS-CoV is a new type of coronavirus, first identified in a Middle Eastern citizen in 2012. Although cases continue to be reported from the Middle East, no new cases of MERS-CoV have been detected in the UK since February 2013.

Professor Nick Phin, Head of Respiratory Diseases for Public Health England said:

?The risk is very low and human to human transmission of MERS-CoV is extremely rare, but we would ask any passengers from British Airways Flight 262 on 24 April to contact NHS 111 if they?re experiencing respiratory symptoms or have felt unwell since their flight.?

-ends-


Notes to editors

1. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) was initially identified in a patient with severe respiratory symptoms in September 2012. Following its emergence, cases have continued to occur, primarily from within KSA and the UAE. However, cases have been imported to several European countries (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Greece) as well as other parts of the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman) and the rest of the world (Malaysia, Phillipines, Tunisia).
2. Public Health England?s mission is to protect and improve the nation?s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government, the NHS, industry and the voluntary and community sector. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.

www.gov.uk/phe Follow us on Twitter @PHE_uk

Public Health England Press Office Tel: 0208 327 7901 Email: infections-pressoffice@phe.gov.uk www.gov.uk/phe

Out of hours: 0208 200 4400


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[sharon sanders]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

Press Release

Embargoed Until: Friday, May 2, 2014, 3:30 PM ET
Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286


CDC announces first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States

MERS case in traveler from Saudi Arabia hospitalized in Indiana
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was confirmed today in a traveler to the United States. This virus is relatively new to humans and was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
?We?ve anticipated MERS reaching the US, and we?ve prepared for and are taking swift action,? said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. ?We?re doing everything possible with hospital, local, and state health officials to find people who may have had contact with this person so they can be evaluated as appropriate. This case reminds us that we are all connected by the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. We can break the chain of transmission in this case through focused efforts here and abroad.?
On April 24, the patient traveled by plane from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to London, England then from London to Chicago, Illinois. The patient then took a bus from Chicago to Indiana. On the 27th, the patient began to experience respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, and fever. The patient went to an emergency department in an Indiana hospital on April 28th and was admitted on that same day. The patient is being well cared for and is isolated; the patient is currently in stable condition. Because of the patient?s symptoms and travel history, Indiana public health officials tested for MERS-CoV. The Indiana state public health laboratory and CDC confirmed MERS-CoV infection in the patient this afternoon.
?It is understandable that some may be concerned about this situation, but this first U.S. case of MERS-CoV infection represents a very low risk to the general public,? said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of CDC?s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. In some countries, the virus has spread from person to person through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is currently no evidence of sustained spread of MERS-CoV in community settings.
CDC and Indiana health officials are not yet sure how the patient became infected with the virus. Exposure may have occurred in Saudi Arabia, where outbreaks of MERS-CoV infection are occurring. Officials also do not know exactly how many people have had close contact with the patient.
So far, including this U.S. importation, there have been 401 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection in 12 countries. To date, all reported cases have originated in six countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Most of these people developed severe acute respiratory illness, with fever, cough, and shortness of breath; 93 people died. Officials do not know where the virus came from or exactly how it spreads. There is no available vaccine or specific treatment recommended for the virus.
?In this interconnected world we live in, we expected MERS-CoV to make its way to the United States,? said Dr. Tom Frieden, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ?We have been preparing since 2012 for this possibility."
Federal, state, and local health officials are taking action to minimize the risk of spread of the virus. The Indiana hospital is using full precautions to avoid exposure within the hospital and among healthcare professionals and other people interacting with the patient, as recommended by CDC.
In July 2013, CDC posted checklists and resource lists for healthcare facilities and providers to assist with preparing to implement infection control precautions for MERS-CoV.
As part of the prevention and control measures, officials are reaching out to close contacts to provide guidance about monitoring their health.
While experts do not yet know exactly how this virus is spread, CDC advises Americans to help protect themselves from respiratory illnesses by washing hands often, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching their eyes, nose and/or mouth with unwashed hands, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
The largest reported outbreak to date occurred April through May 2013 in eastern Saudi Arabia and involved 23 confirmed cases in four healthcare facilities. At this time, CDC does not recommend anyone change their travel plans. The World Health Organization also has not issued Travel Health Warnings for any country related to MERS-CoV. Anyone who develops fever and cough or shortness of breath within 14 day after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula should see their doctor and let them know where they travelled.
For more information about MERS Co-V, please visit:
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/index.html

About Coronavirus:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/index.html

Frequently Asked MERS Questions and Answers:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/faq.html

Indiana Department of Health
http://www.state.in.us/isdh/

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0502-US-MERS.html

[sharon sanders]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

Apparently there was some kind of embargo but it was not in the media releases so I live tweeted the event. Oh well......why the embargo for 30 minutes anyway...??

[sharon sanders]

Re: USA - CDC announces 1st case of coronavirus MERS - Media conference at 3:00 pm Friday May 2, 2014

For latest news and information on this US coronavirus cases please see:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222614