Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document: (LINK). Extract, edited.]
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 47, 18-24 November 2012
(CDTR)
(?)
Novel Coronavirus - Multistate - Severe respiratory syndrome
Opening date: 24 September 2012 Latest update: 5 November 2012
Epidemiological summary
A first case, reported on Thursday 20 September through ProMED, was a 60-year-old patient in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from whom a novel coronavirus was isolated. He was admitted to hospital on 13 June with severe pneumonia, having had symptoms for seven days. He developed acute renal failure, and died on 24 June. Post mortem lung tissue tests were negative for influenza virus A, influenza virus B, parainfluenza virus, enterovirus and adenovirus. Testing with a pancoronavirus RT-PCR was positive for a coronavirus and the virus genome was later sequenced in Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, and identified as a putative novel beta-corononavirus, closely related to bat coronaviruses.
A second case was reported on Saturday 22 September, by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA). The case is a 49-year-old Qatari with no underlying health conditions and a history of travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He developed respiratory symptoms on 3 September, and on 7 September was admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Doha, Qatar, where he subsequently developed renal failure. He was transferred by air ambulance to an ICU in the UK on 11 September. Laboratory tests were performed between 17 and 20 September on upper and lower respiratory samples and tested negative for respiratory viruses including influenza A (H1/H3/H1N1pdm09), influenza B, hMPV, RSV, and specific tests for the human coronaviruses NL63, 229E, OC43 and SARS-CoV. On 21 September, tests using a pancoronavirus RT-PCR test were positive from two lower respiratory tract samples only. On 13 November, HPA published the full genome sequence of the virus isolated from this case. Analysis of the variation in the genomic sequences, coupled with the three-month gap between patients infected with this coronavirus, indicate that there are probably independent sources of infection. Genomic analysis also indicates that the closest relative to this coronavirus was a bat virus identified in 2008 in the Netherlands.
A third case of infection with the novel coronavirus was reported on 4 November by Saudi Arabia. The patient was admitted to hospital in Riyadh with pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed with the novel coronavirus by RT-PCR. He is out of intensive care and is currently recovering.
Media and ProMed reported on 21 November a fourth case of novel coronavirus in a Saudi citizen hospitalised in Riyadh. Laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis and the Ministry is reported to have implemented the necessary precautionary measures. The patient was treated and is now recovering.
Germany reported a fifth case of the novel coronavirus (HCoV-EMC) on 23 November 2012 in a patient from Qatar with onset of symptoms in October. He was initially treated in Qatar but was later transferred to Germany for treatment for severe respiratory distress syndrome and acute renal failure. The diagnosis of the novel coronavirus was made at the HPA using samples sent from Qatar. He has been discharged from hospital. No secondary cases have been detected among close contacts or healthcare staff.
The patient has no epidemiological link to the previous cases.
On 20 November, a research paper was published indicating the relationship of the new coronavirus strain to coronaviruses in bats in Asia, such as Pipistrellus bats, also present in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.
(?)
ECDC assessment
A novel coronavirus has been identified in five patients with severe respiratory and, in at least three of the cases, renal disease. Research on the complete genome sequence of HCoV-EMC/2012, has characterised the virus as a new genotype that is closely related to bat coronaviruses that are distinct from SARS-CoV.
At present there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of this virus. Based on the available information, ECDC assesses the current risk as low. However, close monitoring for further sporadic or clustered cases remains important.
Actions
ECDC has prepared a rapid risk assessment which was posted on the ECDC website.
(?)
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COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 47, 18-24 November 2012
(CDTR)
(?)
Novel Coronavirus - Multistate - Severe respiratory syndrome
Opening date: 24 September 2012 Latest update: 5 November 2012
Epidemiological summary
A first case, reported on Thursday 20 September through ProMED, was a 60-year-old patient in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from whom a novel coronavirus was isolated. He was admitted to hospital on 13 June with severe pneumonia, having had symptoms for seven days. He developed acute renal failure, and died on 24 June. Post mortem lung tissue tests were negative for influenza virus A, influenza virus B, parainfluenza virus, enterovirus and adenovirus. Testing with a pancoronavirus RT-PCR was positive for a coronavirus and the virus genome was later sequenced in Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, and identified as a putative novel beta-corononavirus, closely related to bat coronaviruses.
A second case was reported on Saturday 22 September, by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA). The case is a 49-year-old Qatari with no underlying health conditions and a history of travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He developed respiratory symptoms on 3 September, and on 7 September was admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Doha, Qatar, where he subsequently developed renal failure. He was transferred by air ambulance to an ICU in the UK on 11 September. Laboratory tests were performed between 17 and 20 September on upper and lower respiratory samples and tested negative for respiratory viruses including influenza A (H1/H3/H1N1pdm09), influenza B, hMPV, RSV, and specific tests for the human coronaviruses NL63, 229E, OC43 and SARS-CoV. On 21 September, tests using a pancoronavirus RT-PCR test were positive from two lower respiratory tract samples only. On 13 November, HPA published the full genome sequence of the virus isolated from this case. Analysis of the variation in the genomic sequences, coupled with the three-month gap between patients infected with this coronavirus, indicate that there are probably independent sources of infection. Genomic analysis also indicates that the closest relative to this coronavirus was a bat virus identified in 2008 in the Netherlands.
A third case of infection with the novel coronavirus was reported on 4 November by Saudi Arabia. The patient was admitted to hospital in Riyadh with pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed with the novel coronavirus by RT-PCR. He is out of intensive care and is currently recovering.
Media and ProMed reported on 21 November a fourth case of novel coronavirus in a Saudi citizen hospitalised in Riyadh. Laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis and the Ministry is reported to have implemented the necessary precautionary measures. The patient was treated and is now recovering.
Germany reported a fifth case of the novel coronavirus (HCoV-EMC) on 23 November 2012 in a patient from Qatar with onset of symptoms in October. He was initially treated in Qatar but was later transferred to Germany for treatment for severe respiratory distress syndrome and acute renal failure. The diagnosis of the novel coronavirus was made at the HPA using samples sent from Qatar. He has been discharged from hospital. No secondary cases have been detected among close contacts or healthcare staff.
The patient has no epidemiological link to the previous cases.
On 20 November, a research paper was published indicating the relationship of the new coronavirus strain to coronaviruses in bats in Asia, such as Pipistrellus bats, also present in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.
(?)
ECDC assessment
A novel coronavirus has been identified in five patients with severe respiratory and, in at least three of the cases, renal disease. Research on the complete genome sequence of HCoV-EMC/2012, has characterised the virus as a new genotype that is closely related to bat coronaviruses that are distinct from SARS-CoV.
At present there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of this virus. Based on the available information, ECDC assesses the current risk as low. However, close monitoring for further sporadic or clustered cases remains important.
Actions
ECDC has prepared a rapid risk assessment which was posted on the ECDC website.
(?)
-
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