Published Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:48PM EDT
TORONTO -- Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg has a
sample of the new coronavirus that is causing infections in a number of
countries, most notably Saudi Arabia.
Scientific director Dr. Frank Plummer says the lab obtained the virus from the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The Dutch lab was the one that first identified the new virus last June in a sample from a Saudi man who had died of a mysterious illness.
Scientific director Dr. Frank Plummer says the lab obtained the virus from the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The Dutch lab was the one that first identified the new virus last June in a sample from a Saudi man who had died of a mysterious illness.
-snip-
With those two additional cases, the global case count rises to 40, with at least 20 deaths. Most of those cases have occurred in Saudi Arabia, though Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also reported cases. France, Britain and Germany have had imported infections and in the case of Britain and France. secondary spread from the imported cases.
To date Saudi Arabia has confirmed 31 cases (including the traveller from Britain) with at least 15 deaths.
1 comment:
If there is a virus that may be a risk to Canadians why is that strain brought into our country? Are the scientists not able to travel to the middle east where the virus is active? I STRONGLY disagree with bringing a sample of the coronavirus into Canada, intentionally. Yes I am sure safety measures are put in place, blah blah. The most effective way to protect Canadians is to keep harmful viruses out of Canada. Human error is a reality that can not be ignored. Everyone involved in the transportation and security of this "coronavirus strain sample" must be perfect or flawless to ensure 100% safety to Canadians. For a country that lost a few tonnes of maple syrup it's pretty arrogant to believe we qualify as a reasonably safe place to store sensitive medical viruses. Send Canadian resources and staff to the middle east? This is unbelievably alarming and unacceptable!
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