Saturday, April 19, 2014

UAE Media Report: 12 New (Asymptomatic?) MERS Cases Detected

image

UAE’s Proximity to Saudi Arabia

 

UPDATED: See bottom

# 8499

 


With case reports coming to us piecemeal, and with rarely enough information provided to differentiate one case from another, it becomes a real challenge to know whether a media report is about a new group of cases or is simply a re-hashing of already released information. 

 

That’s the situation we find ourselves in again today, with a press statement appearing on the Emirates News Agency front page – dated today – describing ` about 12 new cases’ of  asymptomatic (or possibly `mild’ ) MERS-CoV infection detected during routine screening of contacts of previous cases.

 

A quick check of the Abu Dhabi Health Authority websites (English & Arabic) turn up nothing on these cases, but then, it is evening and the weekend there.

 

As FluTrackers already has 16 cases from the recent Abu Dhabi cluster on their MERS Case Line Listing, and none were released in batch of 12,  I have to figure there’s at least half a chance that these cases are new.  

 

If so, then this cluster jumps to roughly 28 cases.

 

So, with the caveat that all we really have is a report appearing in the UAE press, here is the story:

 

Sat Apr 19, 2014

Health Authority / Abu Dhabi / 12 new cases of Corona virus does not pose any danger to the public or patients and expects the disposal of the virus self in two weeks ..

19/04/2014 21:00:49

Abu Dhabi, April 19 / WAM / announced the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi, about 12 new cases of the virus, corona virus that causes AIDS Middle East respiratory. Authority said that the health status of new cases is good and confirmed their HIV status through routine tests that are made ​​usually of Mkhaltin for patients. said Authority that the cases have been keeping it in hospitals and do not pose any danger to the public or patients, is expected to get rid of cases of the virus self-untreated during 10-14 days.

Confirmed by the Ministry of Health and the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi they Taataamlan with the current situation with complete transparency and that the need to inform and educate the public to the current situation. also confirmed the body they are in coordination with the Ministry of Health and health authorities and stakeholders in the state have taken the precautionary measures necessary necessary and in accordance with the recommendations of the scientific and conditions and criteria adopted by the World Health Organization, and that all health authorities are working around the clock to monitor and control the general health status .

(Continue . . . )

 

It may not be possible to get a decent feel for the details of this cluster until we get some updates and clarifications from the World Health Organization  

 

 

UPDATED:  No sooner had I posted this, than I found another report via KUNA the Kuwait News Agency -  also dated today - that appears to corroborate this story

 

Emirates announces the discovery of 12 new infections (Corona) in Abu Dhabi

19/04/2014 | 09:35 م
Abu Dhabi - 19-4 (KUNA) - The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi's here tonight for the discovery of 12 new infections (Corona) that causes Acquired Middle East respiratory.

Authority said in a press statement that the health status of the cases of the new well was confirmed infected with the virus through tests routines that are made ​​usually of Mkhaltin for patients.

added that the infected cases have been keeping it in hospitals, indicating that it does not pose any danger to the public or patients in light of expectations that get rid of the virus is a self without treatment over a period ranging between 10 and 14 days.

 
confirmed the body It deals with general health status with full transparency because of the need to inform and educate the public to the current situation.


noted that the World Health Organization in collaboration with all stakeholders and health authorities are working to discover the nature of the virus and how it is transmitted and infection where there is no specific treatment for the virus and there is no vaccination to prevent it. (End) p St. GS / CE EM