Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2014/02/news-scan-feb-17-2014
News Scan for Feb 17, 2014
Saudi MERS death; Polio workers kidnapped
Filed Under:
MERS-CoV; Polio
Saudi Arabia reports its 60th MERS death
Saudi Arabian health officials on Feb 15 announced the death of a young adult cancer patient from the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), bringing the number of fatal MERS cases in that country to 60.
The 22-year-old man is from Eastern province, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) said. The nation has reported 145 MERS-CoV cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 182 cases of MERS-CoV infection worldwide, including 79 deaths, according to a Feb 7 WHO update. That count, however, does not include this recent Saudi case or another reported by the MOH on Feb 2.
Feb 15 MOH statement
Feb 7 WHO update
Four polio workers kidnapped in Pakistan
Gunmen wearing masks have kidnapped a six-member polio immunization team in Pakistan's northern Frontier Region Tank near South Waziristan, according to news reports today.
The gunmen abducted a doctor, two local World Health Organization workers, and three guards in a village called Ping (or Peeng), Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The village is 300 kilometers (186) miles southwest of Peshawar.
A report from Dawn.com said the kidnapped physician is Dr Khandad.
Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but some extremist groups view Pakistan's polio vaccination campaigns as a cover for espionage and a plot to sterilize Muslims. More than 40 immunization workers have been killed in Pakistan by such militants since December 2012, the AFP said.
Feb 18 AFP story
Feb 17 Dawn.com report
News Scan for Feb 17, 2014
Saudi MERS death; Polio workers kidnapped
Filed Under:
MERS-CoV; Polio
Saudi Arabia reports its 60th MERS death
Saudi Arabian health officials on Feb 15 announced the death of a young adult cancer patient from the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), bringing the number of fatal MERS cases in that country to 60.
The 22-year-old man is from Eastern province, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) said. The nation has reported 145 MERS-CoV cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 182 cases of MERS-CoV infection worldwide, including 79 deaths, according to a Feb 7 WHO update. That count, however, does not include this recent Saudi case or another reported by the MOH on Feb 2.
Feb 15 MOH statement
Feb 7 WHO update
Four polio workers kidnapped in Pakistan
Gunmen wearing masks have kidnapped a six-member polio immunization team in Pakistan's northern Frontier Region Tank near South Waziristan, according to news reports today.
The gunmen abducted a doctor, two local World Health Organization workers, and three guards in a village called Ping (or Peeng), Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The village is 300 kilometers (186) miles southwest of Peshawar.
A report from Dawn.com said the kidnapped physician is Dr Khandad.
Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but some extremist groups view Pakistan's polio vaccination campaigns as a cover for espionage and a plot to sterilize Muslims. More than 40 immunization workers have been killed in Pakistan by such militants since December 2012, the AFP said.
Feb 18 AFP story
Feb 17 Dawn.com report