Saudi Arabian MOH Reports New Coronavirus Case

Coronavirus – Credit CDC PHIL

 

# 6730

 

A hat tip to Gert van der Hoek at FluTrackers for picking up a report overnight from the Saudi Gazette indicating that another coronavirus case (presumably #4) is being treated at a hospital in Riyadh.

 

The details of this case, though scant, are somewhat similar (location, and the fact that the patient is recovering) to the case reported nearly 3 weeks ago (see Saudi Arabia MOH Announces Third Coronavirus Case). If confirmed, this will be the 4th case detected since mid-summer.

 

 

Ministry confirms coronavirus case in Riyadh

Last Updated : Wednesday, November 21, 2012 12:32 AM

RIYADH — A new case of coronavirus infection was discovered in Riyadh, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health Tuesday.

 

“A citizen who visited one of the hospitals in Riyadh complaining of flu-like symptoms raised suspicion. Following appropriate tests and after cross checking the results in an specialized lab abroad, it was confirmed that the man tested positive for the virus," the statement said.

 

It said the patient was given appropriate treatment and his condition has improved.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

I see that ProMed Mail has picked up another media report this morning, this time from 5ABR.Com.

 

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS - SAUDI ARABIA (17): 4TH CASE, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

*************************************************************
Date: 20 Nov 2012
Source: 5abr.com [machine trans., edited]

http://www.5abr.com/2012/11/20/article_50675.html

Ministry of Health announces coronavirus case in Riyadh

(continue . . . )

 

 

While the English language side of the The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health doesn’t appear to have this news release posted yet, the Arabic side has the following press release (machine translated) dated 06 Muharram 1434 H (Tuesday Nov 20th, 2012).

 

Ministry News

The Ministry of Health issued a statement about the progress of the virus (La Coruna), confirms that the situation is reassuring

 

Continuation of what you do and the Ministry of Health of the survey and epidemiological and surveillance and preventive for all infectious diseases, as part of its efforts to maintain the health and safety of citizens and residents, in line with the approach of transparency adopted by the ministry with all citizens and the media, and the desire to keep everyone updated on the situation with regard to these diseases , the Ministry wishes to announce the discovery of cases of HIV (Corona) a citizen in a hospital in the city of Riyadh, where he was suspected in his case, and was immediately conduct tests and analyzes necessary for him to laboratories ministry, were also sent a sample to a specialized laboratory outside the Kingdom.

 

The results were confirmed for a positive case, and it was the ministry at the time to take all actions and precautionary measures to deal with this case, according to the norms of scientific and medical WHO guidelines, as well as recommended by the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases, which includes in its membership consultants representing all sectors of health government.

 

The Ministry wishes to point out that the patient may receive appropriate treatment and recovered, and health status reassuring, not to worry, where these cases are sporadic, and equal most people infected with the virus to heal, God willing, after providing supportive therapy appropriate for such cases, like viruses that cause respiratory infections such as seasonal influenza and others.

 

The ministry would also like to reassure everyone that the ministry continues to follow the developments in the situation about this virus, in coordination with international organizations and international medical bodies and regional organizations. May God protect our country from all evils, and the pleasures of all-time health and wellness.

 

 

Yesterday, in mBio: New Coronavirus Linked To Bats, we saw additional evidence that this novel virus is most likely of bat origin, but exactly how it is making its way into the human population, and why now, are questions yet to be answered.

 

The good news is, thus far, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Stay tuned.

»» Read More

Saudi Arabia MOH Announces Third Coronavirus Case

 

Coronavirus – Credit CDC PHIL

# 6695

 

Just after the Hajj has ended and pilgrims are returning home, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has announced the detection, and recovery of, a third case infected with the novel Coronavirus (see Coronavirus: WHO Update & Genome Sequence) first announced in September.

 

Details are scant, including when this case was detected. Other than the location (Riyadh), and the fact that the patient appears to have recovered, we know very little at this point.

 

A machine translation of the announcement posted today on the Saudi MOH website follows. Despite its length, it reveals little:

 

Discovery of the first case of infection Corona citizen in a hospital in the city of Riyadh

December 19, 1433

Continuation of what you do and the Ministry of Health of the survey and epidemiological and surveillance and preventive for all infectious diseases, as part of its efforts to maintain the health and safety of citizens and residents, in line with the approach of transparency adopted by the ministry with all citizens and the media, and a desire to see everyone updated on the situation with regard to these diseases ; Ministry wishes to announce the discovery of a case of getting infected with Corona citizen in a hospital in the city of Riyadh; were suspected in his case, and was immediately conduct tests and analyzes necessary for him in the laboratories of the ministry. As the sample was sent to a specialized laboratory outside the Kingdom, noting that the patient did not leave the Riyadh area.

 

The results were confirmed for a positive situation; Therefore, the ministry at the time to take all actions and precautionary measures to deal with this situation, and in accordance with the norms of scientific and medical WHO guidelines, as well as recommended by the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases, whose membership includes specialized consultants representing all sectors of health government.

 

The Ministry wishes to point out that the patient had received appropriate treatment, and recovered, and that the health status of reassuring not to worry; where are these cases individually, and equal most people infected with the virus to heal - God willing - after providing supportive therapy appropriate for such this topic cases like viruses that cause for respiratory infections such as influenza and other seasonal. The Ministry wishes to reassure everyone that it continues to follow developments in the situation about this virus in coordination with international organizations and international medical bodies and regional organizations. May God protect our country from all evils, and the pleasures of all-time health and wellness.

 

 

Reuters is carrying the following report this afternoon on this latest development:

 

Saudi confirms third case of newly discovered SARS-like virus

ABU DHABI | Sun Nov 4, 2012 11:51am EST

(Reuters) - A Saudi citizen in the capital Riyadh is the world's third confirmed case of a newly discovered SARS-related virus but he has now recovered from his illness, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

(Continue . . )

 

UPDATE:  After posting this blog, I see that ProMed Mail has a few more details, via a correspondence from Ziad A Memish, MD Deputy Minister for Public Health & Director WHO Collaborating Center for Mass Gathering Medicine. 

 

Although I’ve received the email alert, this update does not appear to be on the ProMed website yet.  I’ll post a link when it becomes available.

 

Adding to what we already heard:

 

• This case was initially hospitalized for pneumonia, and after testing negative for the usual suspects, was tested for the novel coronavirus.
• This new case has no epidemiological links to the 2 other cases.
• The patient is now out of intensive care, and is said to be recovering.
• There are no secondary cases detected, but investigations continue.
• The patient visited a farm a week before the illness struck.

 

 

Hopefully a more detailed report will be provided to the World Health Organization, or the media, in the near future.

»» Read More

Details Emerge On (3) Saudi Coronavirus Cases

Credit Wikipedia

UPDATED:  See HPA Announcement On Novel Coronavirus Case

# 6571

 

 

On Friday, in Sometimes They Come Back I wrote a brief history of SARS, and about a ProMed Mail report on a patient in Saudi Arabia diagnosed with a novel coronavirus infection. At the time, we had no details on the patient’s condition, or on any additional cases.

 

Today it is emerging that there are at least three victims of this virus, and two have died.  The third patient is still undergoing treatment.

 

With the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) only a month away, this news takes on increased importance.

 

The following report comes from the Bahrain News Agency.

 

Saudi Health Ministry Announces Diagnosis of New Form of Coronavirus

10 : 06 AM - 23/09/2012

Riyadh, Sept. 23 (BNA) - Saudi Ministry of Health announced Sunday that a new form of the coronavirus was diagnosed in three people causing the death of two of them; the third is still undergoing treatment. The Ministry explained that, with the rapidly changing weather at this time of the year and with the start of the Hajj season a new strain of coronavirus has been recovered from three patients.

Coronaviruses are considered to be one of the common etiological agents of the common cold. The first case was a Saudi patient diagnosed in one of the hospitals in Jeddah; the second was a Saudi patient and the third a Gulf State patient both diagnosed in London, England. Two of the patients passed away and the third patient is still under treatment. The Ministry said that the coronaviruses are well known and most of those who are diagnosed with it recover completely with no complications after receiving the needed supportive therapy.

 

 

Another report - Saudi Ministry of Health announcement on Coronavirus via menafn.com - corroborates the story, but doesn’t add much in details.

 

The reference to two patients diagnosed `in London’ is a bit ambiguous, but it may simply mean that samples were tested and identified there.

 

Obviously something we need clarified.

 

Assurances that `coronaviruses are well known’ and most people `recover completely’ are (in the strictest sense, anyway) - true, since roughly 1/3rd of common colds are attributed to various coronaviruses.

 

But some coronaviruses, such as SARS that emerged in late 2002, have proven that  viruses in this large family can also be quite pathogenic.

 

We’ll be anxious to see more information on these three cases (particularly if they are epidemiologically linked) in the near future.

 

Stay tuned.

»» Read More