Third case of MERS confirmed in Illinois resident

NYDailyNews ^ | May 17, 2014 | Nicole Hensley

[wtd]

NY Daily News: Third case of MERS confirmed in Illinois resident

The unnamed resident tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome after having contact with the first patient in Indiana, who contracted the virus while traveling in Saudi Arabia. The second case was reported in Florida, but is not linked to the other two

[wtd]

With the current administration’s intense case of Islamophilia - who is to say it hasn’t already happened?

[Chode]

surprised they haven't made them take MIDDLE EAST out of the name yet like they did AIDS when it was called by it's proper name, GRID!

[wtd]

First US MERS case spread disease

"North America appears to have seen its first case of onward transmission of the MERS virus, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing Saturday that a contact of the first U.S. case has developed antibodies to the virus.

An unidentified man from Illinois, described as a business associate of the first U.S. case, appears to have been infected with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, the CDC revealed during a hastily called news conference.

The two men met for between 30 and 40 minutes on April 25, and again briefly the next day. They reportedly shook hands during the meetings.

Officials at the World Health Organization and the CDC have stressed the MERS virus does not currently transmit easily from person to person. They have suggested that close and prolonged contact may be need to pass the virus from an infected person to one who is healthy.

When pressed to explain how transmission during a business meeting was consistent with that pattern, the CDC's point person for MERS virus, Dr. David Swerdlow, said the two men had face-to-face contact within a range of about two metres.

"We still don't think that this virus transmits easily, but it does transmit," Swerdlow said. "And that's why we've been concerned all along."

Swerdlow acknowledged that little is currently known about how the MERS virus is spread. Questions remain about who is likely to transmit virus — only severe cases or mild infections too? — and when during an infection a person can transmit the virus.

Still, he suggested this case hasn't led the CDC to rethink its ideas about the risk of MERS virus transmission

[excerpt]

[wtd]

Never heard about AIDS original identity and I actually had to look it up. "GRID" identity = gay-related immune deficiency.

Can you clarify the

"surprised they haven't made them take the MIDDLE EAST out the name"

relation to this topic? I am assuming the removal of the term 'gay-related' is as politically charged as the identity "Middle East"?

[Nifster]

This is a non story. The guy has not needed ANY medical treatment (in the story). Truth is this is not a virus of concern IF you live in a modern medical nation. ALL of the those who are in the US have been treated (where needed) and are doing fine.

This is only deadly if you live in some third world dump like Saudia Arabia or any where else in arab land

[wtd]

A different take on the report of 3rd individual's confirmed infection w/MERS:

• CDC: MERS virus spread in US, but 2nd man not sick
• NOTE: Isn't this the third infected individual?

  "NEW YORK (AP) - Health officials reported Saturday what appears to be the first time that a mysterious Middle East virus has spread from one person to another in the United States. The Illinois man probably picked up an infection from an Indiana man who earlier this month became the first U.S. case of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. The Illinois man, however, never needed medical treatment and is reported to be feeling well, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The two men met twice before the Indiana man fell ill and was hospitalized in Munster, Indiana, shortly after traveling from Saudi Arabia, where he lived and was employed as a health care worker. Health officials say they think the virus spread during a 40-minute business meeting that involved no more contact than a handshake. "We don't think this changes the risk to the general public," which remains low, said Dr. David Swerdlow of the CDC. The new report also is not considered evidence that the virus is spreading more easily among people than previously thought, he said. The virus is not considered to be highly contagious, and health officials believe it only spreads from person to person with close contact. Many of those who have gotten sick in the Middle East have been family members or health care workers caring for a MERS patient. The CDC said tests completed Friday provided evidence that the Illinois man had an infection at some point. Since the first man's diagnosis, health officials have been monitoring and testing anyone who was in close contact with him, including health care workers and household members, but none of the rest of them has tested positive for the virus. A second U.S. illness was confirmed last week in a 44-year-old man from Saudi Arabia who was visiting Florida.

  [excerpt]

  ******

  The highlighted statement at the end confirms the title in this link is incorrect...should read

  ". . .but 2nd 3rd man not sick

[Chode]

taking the "Middle East" out of the MERS acronym, guess i could have phrased it better, my point being not wanting to piss off "Middle Easterners"

[wtd]

re: "This is a non story. . .Nifster"

I hope you are right. None-the-less, it appears there is concern enough given:

• Eye Opener: Health officials race to contain dangerous MERS outbreak

  "CBS Video The outbreak turns into a nationwide alert as the government rushes to find hundreds of people who may have been exposed to the deadly virus. ...All that, and all that matters, in today's "Eye Opener." Your world in 90 seconds."

  Also note that other nations including

  Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands and the UAE as well as the USA have recorded cases, mostly in people who had been to the desert kingdom.

  LINK

  *****

• Scientific American: Deadly MERS Camel Virus Crosses Ocean to U.S.

  "Infection's spread is still limited, although cases have nearly tripled in past two months."

  *****

  Of particular note which aligns with you last statement:

  "This is only deadly if you live in some third world dump like Saudia Arabia or any where else in arab land"-Nifster

  And that would be this quote via YahooNews :

  "Only one medical facility in Mecca — the King Abdullah Medical City — is equipped to handle MERS cases, according to Ismail Mohammed, the director-general of another hospital in the city, Umm Al Qura."

[Bigg Red]

I say it is because he wants Americans to contract the virus.

***
Well, yeah, the panic induced by the fear of a plague could get people to fall in line and do what they are told by the authorities in order to keep themselves and their families safe. Do we have martial law on the horizon?

[wtd]

"The newly reported patient actually tested negative for an active MERS infection on May 5, but a follow up blood sample tested on May 16 found that he had antibodies to the virus, suggesting he had been infected with the disease."

via UK Daily Mail

[Nifster]

The only cases that the US has seen are two from Saudia Arabia. This third was someone in close contact with the Indiana visitor. There should be more concern for the growing number of measles cases that are occurring amongst the Amish in Ohio because they have been exposed by Filipinos coming to the US infected.

Just because CBS says something is important does not make it so.

The Florida case is doing fine. The Indiana case is doing fine. The third case in Indiana has not needed ANY medical treatment. My point is the valid one. The easiest way to end the transmission is to prohibit anyone from Saudia Arabia traveling to the US. Period. You end the spread of disease by limiting its transmission.

Your concern is silly. Take a look at the nations where deaths have occurred....they are all in the middle east. Countries with modern medicine are not experiencing anything other than the usual media hype.....you do remember SARS don’t you????

[Nifster]

And has had NO medical treatment....in other words he was able to ward off any of this so called ‘major’ disease. The hype that the media is giving this is stupid.

The solution is simple.... prohibit travel to the US by anyone from the middle east until this is tamped down. End of story.

We all remember SARS don’t we????

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

Hat tip to Steve86 and Rushmore Rocks for the heads-up!

[Lazamataz]

I am so screwed.

[wtd]

Why must it be either/or (MERS vs. Measles). Both are hideous infections are to be avoided.

Question remains, where does the red line in the sand exist - how many deaths before the subject of quarantine/prohibition of travel to/from particularly Saudi Arabia (& all MERS affected countries) is discussed?

[wtd]

Your concern is silly.-Nifster

Perhaps my concern is silly. Time will tell. However, it is clear not all MERS exposures result in active infection.

See post #8 . . .

Silently among us: Scientists worry about milder cases of MERS (non CBS source)

"CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists leading the fight against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome say the next critical front will be understanding how the virus behaves in people with milder infections, who may be spreading the illness without being aware they have it.

Establishing that may be critical to stopping the spread of MERS, which emerged in the Middle East in 2012 and has so far infected more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia alone. It kills about 30 percent of those who are infected."

*****

The third confirmed MERS infection in the US was asymptomatic. The only reason he became aware he was infected is because the authorities decided to follow up with a second test.

There just isn't enough known about MERS to dismiss all concern about the possible potential for this virus to spread further.

Perhaps MERS will resemble the outcome of SARS. Again, time will tell.

[Free Vulcan]

How's that?

[metmom]

IOW, they’re muslims.

[metmom]

With an itinerary like that, he knew he was infected and DELIBERATELY chose flights that would expose him to the busiest airports around.

[Nifster]

Wow you sure go from 0 to 60 for no good reason. You missed my entire point.

The ONLY deaths are those that are occurring in the third world dumps that have no modern medicine (frequently because it is against their muslim beliefs),

I have consistently said the way to ‘end’ this transmission is to ban travel from sandy land. This is not unlike SARS which did massive damage in Asia because of their lousy medical systems. Once travel was banned end of story. It may occur locally but does not get spread world wide