Saturday, October 19, 2013

World Health Organization (WHO): Saudi Arabia has succeeded in protecting the 1.5 million pilgrims from the #coronavirus #MERS & epidemic diseases

October 19, 2013
Translation

Said Dr Ala Din Alwan , director of the Eastern Mediterranean Region , World Health Organization ( WHO ) that the Saudi authorities succeeded in preventing the spread of epidemics and viruses private Coruna center of more than 1.5 million pilgrims during the Hajj season .
The announcement came ahead of Alwan leave Cairo on Saturday on his way to Amman to participate in some activities of the regional organization.
Said Alwan : " WHO participated in monitoring the health status of the pilgrims through some observers and observers did not monitor any cases of epidemic or cases of HIV Coruna among the pilgrims so far , with no surveillance of our units are any cases of the virus Corona or serious diseases threaten the safety of pilgrims and has provided authorities Saudi Arabia and health services adequately in each ritual sites and has developed several health points and medical centers in the holy sites in Mina . "
He added: " WHO was worried about the spread of Corona and some epidemics amid pilgrims this season was sent teams of software epidemic diseases to participate in a technical mission to monitor , guide and advise on precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Corona and assist in the early detection of the spread of the epidemic , but the performance of the authorities Saudi Arabia has succeeded in protecting both the number of pilgrims from the spread of epidemics season so far passed an unprecedented rate of success health . "


http://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/407347.aspx 

Friday, October 18, 2013

#MERS #Coronavirus WHO Update October 18, 2013

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update

WHO has been informed of an additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Qatar.
The patient is a 61-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who was admitted to a hospital on 11 October 2013. He is currently hospitalized and is in a stable condition. The patient was tested positive for MERS-CoV infection in Qatar and was confirmed by the reference laboratory of Public Health England yesterday.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the patient had not travelled outside Qatar in the two weeks prior to becoming ill. The patient owns a farm and has had significant contact with the animals, including camels, sheep and hens. Some of the animals in his farm have been tested and were negative for MERS-CoV. Further investigations into the case and the animals in the farm are ongoing. 

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 139 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 60 deaths.
Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for MERS-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations.
Specimens from patients’ lower respiratory tracts should be obtained for diagnosis where possible. Clinicians are reminded that MERS-CoV infection should be considered even with atypical signs and symptoms, such as diarrhoea, in patients who are immunocompromised.
Health care facilities are reminded of the importance of systematic implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC). Health care facilities that provide care for patients suspected or confirmed with MERS-CoV infection should take appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus to other patients, health care workers and visitors.
All Member States are reminded to promptly assess and notify WHO of any new case of infection with MERS-CoV, along with information about potential exposures that may have resulted in infection and a description of the clinical course. Investigation into the source of exposure should promptly be initiated to identify the mode of exposure, so that further transmission of the virus can be prevented.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.
WHO has convened an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to advise the Director-General on the status of the current situation. The Emergency Committee, which comprises international experts from all WHO Regions, unanimously advised that, with the information now available, and using a risk-assessment approach, the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not at present been met.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_10_18/en/index.html 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

#H7N9 WHO: Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update 10/16/13

The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of a new laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. This is the first new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus since 11 August 2013.

The patient is a 35-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He was admitted to a hospital on 8 October 2013 and is in a critical condition. Additionally, a previously laboratory-confirmed patient from Hebei has died.

To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 136 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection including 45 deaths. Currently, three patients are hospitalized and 88 have been discharged. So far, there is no evidence of sustainable human-to-human transmission. 

The Chinese government continues to take strict monitoring, prevention and control measures, including: strengthening of epidemic surveillance and analysis; deployment of medical treatment; conducting public risk communication and information dissemination; strengthening international cooperation and exchanges; and is continuing to carry out scientific research.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions. 

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_10_16/en/index.html 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

INFLUENZA (58): WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GLOBAL UPDATE NO.196

A ProMED-mail post
Date: Mon 14 Oct 2013
Source: WHO surveillance & monitoring update 196 [edited]
http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/2013_10_14_surveillance_update_196.pdf


Influenza Update No. 196 - 14 Oct 2013
--------------------------------------
Summary

Although in many European countries influenza-like illness activity started to increase, influenza activity in the northern hemisphere temperate zones remained at inter-seasonal levels.

In most regions of tropical Asia, influenza activity was at a low level, with the exception of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, where influenza transmission increased due to influenza A(H3N2).

In the Caribbean region of Central America and tropical South American countries, cases of influenza decreased, while acute respiratory illness remained stable in the Caribbean and Central America. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) predominated, but the RSV activity remained within expected seasonal levels.

Influenza activity peaked in the temperate countries of South America and in South Africa in late June 2013. Temperate South American countries reported acute respiratory disease activity within expected seasonal levels, and RSV activity largely declined.

In Australia and New Zealand, numbers of influenza viruses detected and rates of influenza-like illness seemed to have peaked. Co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B viruses was reported in both countries.

Additional and updated information on non-seasonal influenza viruses can be found at: http://who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/HAI_Risk_Assessment/en/inde.

Countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere
--------------------------------
North America
Overall influenza activity in North America remained at low levels throughout the region. In Canada and the United States of America, influenza activity remained at interseasonal levels. In Mexico, influenza activity remained low after a period of 2 months (July-August 2013) with higher influenza activity.

Europe
Influenza activity in Europe remained at interseasonal levels. None of the specimens collected from sentinel sites between 10-22 Sep 2013 tested positive for influenza. However, many countries started reporting increased consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI).

Northern Africa and the Western Asia region
Influenza activity was low in the Northern Africa and western Asia regions. Only Qatar reported influenza activity, mainly influenza A virus (not subtyped), since the end of August 2013.

Northern Asia
Influenza activity in the temperate region of Asia remained at interseasonal levels since late May 2013. In Mongolia, clinical activity started to increase since mid-August 2013, but no influenza viruses were detected in this period.

Countries in the tropical zone
-----------------------
Tropical countries of the Americas/Central America and the Caribbean:

Overall influenza activity in the Caribbean and Central America was at a low level throughout the region. Decreasing numbers of influenza A virus have been seen throughout the region, but influenza transmission had largely come to an end in the last few weeks in these countries. Co-circulation of influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses were reported, and RSV predominated among respiratory viruses in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama.

In tropical South America, respiratory virus activity continued decreasing following a period of high influenza activity in July and August 2013. In Colombia, the proportions of outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions were similar to reports for the same period in previous years. In Venezuela, ARI and pneumonia levels were reported within the expected values for the time of year. In Ecuador, the number of positive influenza samples steadily decreased since its influenza peak in August 2013. In Peru, reports of ARI in children under 5 years of age have been increasing since July 2013, but were consistent with levels from previous years. In the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the proportion of SARI-related hospitalizations were reported as elevated compared to the data from the same period last year [2012], and laboratory data from CENETROP [National Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases] in Santa Cruz showed that of 182 SARI samples analyzed in the beginning of October 2013, 33 percent were positive for a respiratory virus (a 9 percent increase from the previous week). Brazil showed a continuing decline in the number of positive influenza samples since July 2013, and among recent positive samples, influenza A un-typed and influenza B viruses were detected.

Central African tropical region
Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya reported circulating influenza viruses. In Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, influenza B and A(H3N2) were the predominant viruses detected. Kenya reported low influenza activity due to both influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses.

Tropical Asia
Influenza transmission in southern and Southeast Asia was low in most countries. Both influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses were reported in this area. Since early July 2013, an increase in influenza transmission was seen in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China. The influenza transmission in Hong Kong SAR was predominated by influenza A(H3N2) virus. This increased transmission was also seen in the influenza associated hospital rates in this region; mainly the rates among 0-4-year-old patients increased over the past month. In the south of China, influenza activity remained at an interseasonal level. However, the number of influenza virus detections has been higher in this year's [2013] interseasonal period compared to the previous year.

Countries in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere
-----------------------------------
Temperate countries of South America
In the temperate countries of South America, ARI activity was reported at expected levels for the time of year, and RSV continued to be the most common respiratory virus detected in Argentina and Chile, although cases had largely decreased. In Argentina, ILI activity continued its decreasing trend since its peak in June and July of this year [2013]. In Chile, the proportion of SARI-associated hospitalizations continued to decrease. In Paraguay, the ILI consultation rate was higher than expected for the time of year but with decreased influenza and respiratory virus detection. In Uruguay, the proportion of SARI-associated hospitalizations increased from levels reported in the previous week, but proportions of ICU admissions continued to decline.

Temperate countries of Southern Africa
After a peak in influenza activity in South Africa due to influenza A(H1N1)pmd09 in June 2013, a small 2nd peak was observed in the last few weeks due to increased influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B circulation.

Overall, in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, influenza activity seemed to have peaked.

In Australia, during the period from 30 Aug to 13 Sep 2013, the distribution of influenza types and subtypes was variable across jurisdictions. In Western Australia, influenza A(H3N2) remained the predominant virus subtype; however, the proportion of A(H1N1)pdm09 increased. Influenza type B continued to represent over half of Victoria's influenza notifications. In recent weeks, there have been increasing proportions of influenza B virus in Queensland and South Australia. Influenza positivity levels ranged from 15 percent (309/2114) in the national sentinel laboratory surveillance to 28.1 percent (56/199) in the Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN). The Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN) sentinel hospital surveillance system reported that the rate of influenza associated hospitalisations had been relatively stable since mid-August 2013. Almost 15 percent of influenza associated hospitalisations were admitted directly to the ICU. The age distribution of hospital admissions showed peaks in the 0-9 and over 60 years age groups.

In New Zealand, ILI activity was almost at the baseline threshold in early September 2013 but decreased since then. Out of 303 samples received in the last week, 161 were positive for influenza (53 percent): 49 were influenza B, 16 were influenza A(H3N2), 22 were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and 74 were influenza A (not subtyped). In Auckland and Counties Manukau District Health Boards, decreased influenza activity was reported in community surveillance and hospital surveillance.

http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20131015.2003667

#MERS #Coronavirus WHO Update October 14, 2013

WHO has been informed of an additional two laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia.
The patients, both men, aged 55 and 78, were from Riyadh region. They became ill at the end of September 2013 and died in the beginning of October 2013. Both the patients were reported to have had no contact to a known laboratory-confirmed case with MERS-CoV.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 138 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 60 deaths.
Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for MERS-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations.
Specimens from patients’ lower respiratory tracts should be obtained for diagnosis where possible. Clinicians are reminded that MERS-CoV infection should be considered even with atypical signs and symptoms, such as diarrhoea, in patients who are immunocompromised.
Health care facilities are reminded of the importance of systematic implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC). Health care facilities that provide care for patients suspected or confirmed with MERS-CoV infection should take appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus to other patients, health care workers and visitors.
All Member States are reminded to promptly assess and notify WHO of any new case of infection with MERS-CoV, along with information about potential exposures that may have resulted in infection and a description of the clinical course. Investigation into the source of exposure should promptly be initiated to identify the mode of exposure, so that further transmission of the virus can be prevented.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.
WHO has convened an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to advise the Director-General on the status of the current situation. The Emergency Committee, which comprises international experts from all WHO Regions, unanimously advised that, with the information now available, and using a risk-assessment approach, the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not at present been met.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_10_14/en/index.html 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Adaptive evolution of bat dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (dpp4): implications for the origin and emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Virology Journal 2013, 10:304 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-10-304
Published: 10 October 2013

Abstract (provisional)

Background

The newly emerged Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that first appeared in Saudi Arabia during the summer of 2012 has to date (20th September 2013) caused 58 human deaths. MERS-CoV utilizes the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) host cell receptor, and analysis of the long-term interaction between virus and receptor provides key information on the evolutionary events that lead to the viral emergence.
Findings We show that bat DPP4 genes have been subject to significant adaptive evolution, suggestive of a long-term arms-race between bats and MERS related CoVs. In particular, we identify three positively selected residues in DPP4 that directly interact with the viral surface glycoprotein.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the evolutionary lineage leading to MERS-CoV may have circulated in bats for a substantial time period.

The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production. 

http://www.virologyj.com/content/10/1/304/abstract