Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2018/04/news-scan-apr-09-2018
News Scan for Apr 09, 2018
MERS case in Saudi Arabia; Listeria tied to cantaloupes
Filed Under:
MERS-CoV; Listeria; Foodborne Disease
[h=3]Saudi Arabia records new MERS case[/h] The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed a new case of MERS-CoV yesterday.
Officials have diagnosed an 85-year-old Saudi man from Al Hawiyah as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). He is in stable condition, and the MOH said the patient had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for MERS.
Saudi Arabia's MERS-CoV total cases since 2012 are 1,831, including 739 deaths. Nine people are still being treated for their infections.
Apr 8 MOH update
[h=3]Cantaloupes behind Australian Listeria outbreak that's sickened 20[/h] Cantaloupes are the culprit behind an outbreak of listeriosis in Australia, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today. So far 20 people (19 confirmed cases, 1 probable) have been sickened after eating melons from a single grower.
"It is believed that the cause of the outbreak was a combination of environmental conditions and weather contaminating the surface of the fruit, with low levels of the bacteria persisting after the washing process," the WHO said.
The WHO said all of the patients were hospitalized, and there have been seven deaths and one miscarriage associated with the outbreak, which began on Jan 17.
On Feb 27, an Australian grower of rockmelons (cantaloupes) recalled all fruit tied to the outbreak, but not before some fruit was distributed to eight countries: China, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
The WHO recommended people thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before eating, and noted that pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and the elderly are most at risk during Listeria outbreaks.
Apr 9 WHO statement
News Scan for Apr 09, 2018
MERS case in Saudi Arabia; Listeria tied to cantaloupes
Filed Under:
MERS-CoV; Listeria; Foodborne Disease
[h=3]Saudi Arabia records new MERS case[/h] The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed a new case of MERS-CoV yesterday.
Officials have diagnosed an 85-year-old Saudi man from Al Hawiyah as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). He is in stable condition, and the MOH said the patient had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for MERS.
Saudi Arabia's MERS-CoV total cases since 2012 are 1,831, including 739 deaths. Nine people are still being treated for their infections.
Apr 8 MOH update
[h=3]Cantaloupes behind Australian Listeria outbreak that's sickened 20[/h] Cantaloupes are the culprit behind an outbreak of listeriosis in Australia, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today. So far 20 people (19 confirmed cases, 1 probable) have been sickened after eating melons from a single grower.
"It is believed that the cause of the outbreak was a combination of environmental conditions and weather contaminating the surface of the fruit, with low levels of the bacteria persisting after the washing process," the WHO said.
The WHO said all of the patients were hospitalized, and there have been seven deaths and one miscarriage associated with the outbreak, which began on Jan 17.
On Feb 27, an Australian grower of rockmelons (cantaloupes) recalled all fruit tied to the outbreak, but not before some fruit was distributed to eight countries: China, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
The WHO recommended people thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before eating, and noted that pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and the elderly are most at risk during Listeria outbreaks.
Apr 9 WHO statement