Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection released from hospital in Munster

[Giuseppe]

I coped this post here because it gives the flight information below in bolding:



[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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[Emily]

Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/C...257711001.html

Man with first U.S. case of MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster
Updated: Fri 4:15 PM, May 02, 2014
By: Associated Press

[Nika]

Re: Indiana: Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

Full release from Indiana Dept of Health

http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/mobile/mobiledetail.aspx?iid=200566

Email
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection Confirmed in Northwestern Indiana

Date & Time
5/2/2014
12:00 AM

Description

INDIANAPOLIS? A case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been confirmed in a patient in Northwestern Indiana today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Indiana State Department of Health is working with CDC and others to identify potential additional cases and to prevent further transmission of the disease. This is the first case of MERS-CoV in the United States.

MERS-CoV is viral respiratory illness which was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Health 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. While MERS-CoV has been shown to spread in hospitals, there is currently no evidence of sustained spread of MERS-CoV in community settings.

?I want to assure every Hoosier that we have deployed the full resources of the Indiana State Department of Health to engage in tracking this case, assessing the risk to the public, and working to prevent the spread of this virus,? said Governor Pence. ?We are working in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and encourage those who may have been exposed to this virus to report any symptoms to their medical provider and take all necessary precautions. Further, I commend Community Hospital in Munster, their staff and physicians for their swift professionalism in diagnosing and addressing this case.?

On April 24, the patient traveled by plane from 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 increasing respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, and fever. The patient visited the Emergency Department at Community Hospital in Munster on April 28 and was admitted that same day.

The patient is being well cared for, is isolated and is in stable condition. Because of the patient?s symptoms and travel history, physicians at the hospital decided a MERS-CoV test was appropriate.

Community Hospital in Munster has contacted all high-risk individuals. In an abundance of caution, individuals who visited the Emergency Department (ED) of Community Hospital in Munster between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on April 28, 2014 should watch for signs and symptoms. If you visited the ED during this time and begin experiencing symptoms, please call your healthcare provider and let them know about your possible exposure to MERS-CoV.

The symptoms of MERS-CoV are similar to the symptoms of influenza, and include:
? Congestion
? Cough
? Fever over 100.4
? Shortness of breath
? Pneumonia
? Body aches
? Diarrhea

Although the MERS-CoV infection is not easily spread from person-to-person, close contacts of people with MERS-CoV can develop infections.

?We are doing everything in our power to work with the hospital, federal and other state partners, as well as the local health department to track and contain this disease in Indiana,? said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D.

If you do not have any of the symptoms, you can continue with your daily activities, such as going to work, school, or other public areas.

To help prevent the spread of MERS-CoV to other people, CDC advises that people follow these tips:
? Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
? Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash.
? Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
? Avoid close contact, such as kissing, sharing cups, or sharing eating utensils, with sick people.
? Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.

The Indiana State Department of Health has established a hotline for Hoosiers to call with questions. The hotline will be open seven days a week until further notice from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The number is
1-877-826-0011
.

For more information, please visit the websites below.
? 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:

https://www.StateHealth.in.gov

For more information, visit the Indiana State Department of Health at

https://www.StateHealth.IN.gov

. Follow us on Twitter at
@StateHealthIN
and on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/isdh1

.


Contact Information
Amy Reel
areel@isdh.in.gov

317.233.7315

Entry Type:
Press Release

Entry Category:

Announcements
IN.gov Category:

Family & Health
Agency Name
Health, Indiana State Department of

[sharon sanders]

Re: Indiana: Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

No wonder the feds did not want to identify this location. It is basically suburban Chicago:

[Nika]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

Good thing about this is that it wasnt a long bus trip. I was thinking greyhound to southern IN.

[Shiloh]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27262357

2 May 2014 Last updated at 17:09 ET
Mers outbreak: London-bound passengers warned over virus
London Heathrow The BA flight passed through London Heathrow

Health officials have issued advice to passengers after a suspected case of the Mers respiratory virus on board a flight passing through London.

Public Health England said a passenger on BA flight 262 from Riyadh, who passed through Heathrow on 24 April, had been admitted to a US hospital.

People sitting near the passenger have been contacted and anyone else feeling unwell should call the NHS 111 service.

Public Health England said the risk of infection was "extremely low"...

[Pathfinder]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

UPDATE 3-First U.S. case of deadly MERS virus confirmed -CDC

Fri May 2, 2014 5:52pm EDT

...
"It was only a matter of time before the United States had a case," said virologist Dr. W. Ian Lipkin of Columbia University in New York. "Most of us thought it was not a question of if, but when. Am I more concerned as a result of this case? No."

"One case does not represent a reason for panic," agreed Dr. Wayne Marasco, an infectious disease specialist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

"But the very fact that we have a virus with documented person-to-person transmission at a fairly efficient rate and a high mortality rate suggests we have a potentially serious pathogen. There are no therapies out there that I'm aware of, but I don't think we have a very big risk in the United States."
Marasco suggests that immigration agents should nevertheless be on heightened alert for passengers arriving in the United States after trips to the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia.
...
The greatest reason for concern is that so little is known about this coronavirus. It has been found in bats and camels, and many experts say camels are the most likely animal reservoir from which humans become infected.

In part, that ignorance is a result of the lack of cooperation between Middle Eastern countries, where MERS has been spreading, and scientists elsewhere. "One of the biggest problems is that we haven't had any access to samples from Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Qatar despite my efforts," Marasco said
Now that the United States has a case of MERS, there might be political pressure for that to change, suggested Lipkin, who pointed out that during the SARS epidemic, China was similarly reluctant to cooperate with western scientists.

"Now the U.S. is going to be more interested. I think it will have an impact on the number of scientists here who will be encouraged to work on MERS and congressmen will stand up and rail about the importance of this," Lipkin said. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Sharon Begley in New York; Additional reporting by Kate Kelland in London and Susan Guyett in Indianapolis; Editing by Michele Gershberg, Tom Brown and Lisa Shumaker)

Full text:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/02/usa-health-mers-idUSL2N0NO1FA20140502

[Emily]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

I didn't realize this was a bedroom community to Chicago, either, until I saw Sharon's post. I guess I was thinking of Muncie, IN, a more well-know city.

[Pathfinder]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

The driving distance from Munster, Indiana to Chicago, Illinois is 27 miles / 43 km

http://www.travelmath.com/drive-distance/from/Munster,+IN/to/Chicago,+IL

[Pathfinder]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

Date: 5/2/2014

Statement from Community Hospital

Today, May 2, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) conducted a joint press briefing to announce the first confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the United States. As just announced by the ISDH, the patient is being treated at Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana. In light of federal privacy regulations, we can only disclose that the patient is in good condition. We are maintaining appropriate isolation protocols for the protection of health care staff.

Community Hospital recognized the possibility of the MERS infection and acted quickly to institute isolation protocols to contain the possible spread of the virus. Community Hospital has been working cooperatively with the CDC and ISDH regarding tracking of patient family members and monitoring of exposed health care workers. This patient was not out in the local community and, therefore, any public exposure was minimal.

Again, this disease requires close contact for transmission, and the patient?s activities in the United States have been very limited and thus widespread cases are not expected. However, in an abundance of caution, the exposed family members and health care workers will be monitored daily throughout the 14-day incubation period to watch for the development of any signs or symptoms of MERS-CoV. Since there is limited data regarding MERS-CoV, and because this is the first confirmed case in the United States, Community Hospital will be a data surveillance site for the CDC.

As noted by the Indiana Governor?s Office and the ISDH, Community Hospital recognized and identified this rare disease and acted quickly to contain the situation and protect the public.

For more information about MERS-CoV, please visit: http://www.in.gov/isdh/25796.htm

FOR THE PUBLIC:
If you have general questions regarding MERS, please call the Indiana State Department of Health hotline at 1-877-826-0011 which is being answered daily, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, EST. Messages can be left which will be answered the next day.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms including cough, shortness of breath and fever, and recently traveled to Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates in the past 14 days or traveled on a plane from London to Chicago or on a bus from O?Hare to Highland, IN, on Thursday, April 24, please contact your health care provider.

...

http://www.comhs.org/community/pr_view.asp?pr=432

[Giuseppe]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

I understand the anxiety behind this recent development in a high density populated area but I think that public health officers are equipped to track the epidemiology of the virus very well.

From this point of view, the identification of the first imported case in USA may be an opportunity for the isolation of the virus and its subsequent full genetic sequencing, and the results made public.

This will permit to all researchers to track any change in known key viral proteins as well as the impact on the epidemiological behaviour.

US citizens have also to realize that here in Europe will are experiencing an intense flow of migrants from Middle East, mostly from Syria.

If the MERS would be widespread in the region, we would have now large nosocomial outbreaks in various of the major towns of Southern EU MS.

We will see how this incident develop. gm

[sharon sanders]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

For more information about MERS-CoV, please visit: http://www.in.gov/isdh/25796.htm

FOR THE PUBLIC:
If you have general questions regarding MERS, please call the Indiana State Department of Health hotline at 1-877-826-0011 which is being answered daily, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, EST. Messages can be left which will be answered the next day.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms including cough, shortness of breath and fever, and recently traveled to Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates in the past 14 days or traveled on a plane from London to Chicago or on a bus from O?Hare to Highland, IN, on Thursday, April 24, please contact your health care provider.

...
http://www.comhs.org/community/pr_view.asp?pr=432

Thank you to the local organizations for the disclosures.

Above is the best advice I have seen. If you are feeling sick and you were on either of the flights mentioned in post 1, or on the bus, or in any of the areas related to these modes of transport, contact your health care provider.

We have seen symptoms of breathing difficulties and gastrointestinal problems. There is also a case mentioned in the press of a man who was described as having coronavirus in the lining of his brain. This would cause headaches, and maybe sensitivity to light.

So essentiallly, if you are feeling sick at all, contact your medical practitioner.

If you go to an emergency room, clinic, or doctor's office, have a companion get a mask and gloves for you to wear before you go inside.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

As stated by Public Health England, for travelers who shared the same airplane with the US 1st confirmed case, the maximum incubation period for MERS is up to 14 days. So, in the unlikely case someone will develop symptoms BEFORE MAY 9, it is useful to contact an health care provider.

After MAY 9, the likelihood of developing a MERS-related condition will be even less probable...

[Giuseppe]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

As stated by Public Health England, for travelers who shared the same airplane with the US 1st confirmed case, the maximum incubation period for MERS is up to 14 days. So, in the unlikely case someone will develop symptoms BEFORE MAY 9, it is useful to contact an health care provider.

After MAY 9, the likelihood of developing a MERS-related condition will be even less probable...

[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-

(...)


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[Giuseppe]

Re: Indiana / Illinois / Suburban Chicago : Man with first U.S. case of novel coronaviurs/MERS infection is hospitalized in Munster

Much more importat questions raises the fact that a patient remained for three hours in an Emergency department.

I think triage officers should revise the algorithm when receiving patients from M.E. region.

Source: CIDRAP, http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...bia-healthcare

(...)

The hospital has contacted "all high-risk individuals" about the case, the IDPH said.

It said anyone who visited the hospital's emergency department between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Apr 28 should contact their healthcare provider if they experience symptoms.

(...)


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