Earth Watch Report
| 04.11.2012 | Epidemic Hazard | Saudi Arabia | Capital City, Riyadh |
Epidemic Hazard in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, 04 November, 2012 at 18:35 (06:35 PM) UTC.
| Description | |
| 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. The potentially deadly novel coronavirus is from the same family as SARS but had only been confirmed in two previous cases: a 60-year-old Saudi man who died earlier this year, and a man from Qatar who was treated in a London hospital. Saudi authorities conducted tests on the new case in the Health Ministry and then sent abroad a sample which tested positive, the agency said, citing a statement from the ministry. “The patient received the appropriate treatment and has recovered,” the agency quoted the ministry as stating, adding that the man had not left Riyadh. In accordance with Ministry of Health’s (MoH) responsibilities for disease prevention and control, and in keeping with our practice to inform the public and the media about significant findings that result from MoH disease surveillance activities, we are announcing today [4 Nov 2012] that one of our hospitalized citizens has been confirmed to have pneumonia caused by novel Coronavirus (nCoV). This case had no epidemiological links to the 2 documented novel coronavirus cases to date. When this individual was first admitted to hospital, he was evaluated for usual respiratory agents including influenza viruses. When none of these tests were positive, additional specimens were collected and tested by one of our regional MoH laboratories and an international reference centre. Both labs report RT-PCR positive results for nCoV upE target. Today MoH press agents released this information in English and Arabic to local and regional television and newspapers. WHO has been contacted in accordance with our IHR 2005 duties. With regard to the patient’s current status, he is recovering and out of intensive care. We have done preliminary investigations of family members and contacts including health care workers. There are no apparent secondary cases at this time, however these investigations are on-going. This man has no significant travel history, in fact had not been out of Riyadh. One week prior to disease onset he reports having visited a farm. Additional details will be reported as they become available. |
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| Biohazard name: | SARS |
| Biohazard level: | 4/4 Hazardous |
| Biohazard desc.: | Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | confirmed |
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