Friday, May 23, 2014


16 being monitored in Los Angeles County for possible exposure to MERS


From Will at THE OTHER NEWS:

US -16 being monitored in LA County for possible exposure to MERS (nothing to see, move along). HT: CBSlocal.
KCAL9 News has learned that as many as 16 people in LA County are being monitored for possible exposure to MERS.
MERS stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

The California Department of Public Health says the 16 people were all passengers on a flight with a man who is now hospitalized with the disease in Florida.

The disease first appeared in the Middle East two years ago.

Worldwide, health officials say there have been about 650 reported cases with nearly one-third ending in death.

Three people in the United States were recently diagnosed with MERS. Two of the three people reportedly traveled into this country from Saudi Arabia.

MERS, like the similar disease SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) causes fever, coughing and often-fatal pneumonia.

Related:

Global MERS death toll passes 200

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Suspected cases of MERS investigated in Virginia
RICHMOND -- State health officials are investigating whether several Virginians may have been exposed to Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS.
Dr. Laurie Forlano, the deputy state epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health, tells 13 News Now that they are monitoring "several" Virginians who were on airplanes and may have come into contact with people who were sick.
She stresses that no cases have been confirmed in Virginia and they’re keeping track of each region of the state, including Hampton Roads.

Anonymous said...


Shisha cafe culture may spread MERS faster


(MENAFN - Arab News) The shisha cafe culture may further exacerbate the spread of the coronavirus in saudi arabia and other middle east countries said a senior physiology professor at king saud university (ksu) on wednesday.

Anonymous said...

‘MERS’ Kills Two Filipinos
MANILA, May 22, (AFP): The Philippines said Thursday that two of its citizens working in Saudi Arabia have died from the MERS coronavirus.

Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said their relatives have been informed and efforts were being made to bring the bodies home. “Our consul general in Jeddah confirmed that there were two Filipinos who died of MERS,” he told AFP.

“The consulate is helping to repatriate their remains,” he said, adding that the deaths were recorded on May 12 and 18.

Anonymous said...

VDH Monitoring Several Possible. MERS cases in Virginia

Anonymous said...

JapanTimes: Is Mideast xenophobia stalling cure for MERS virus?

Doesn't the author think a virus can spread? Or does the author suggest that Arabs aren't intelligent enough to develop a cure?

Anonymous said...

Illinois resident infected with MERS tests negative for ability to spread virus

Anonymous said...

Vaccine Against MERS Virus in Development; polyDNA Congratulates Novavax on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Vaccine Efforts

Anonymous said...

No evidence to suggest camels transmitting MERS, says Oman

Anonymous said...

NatGeo: Why a MERS Vaccine Won't Be Easy
Economics and timing complicate vaccine research.

Anonymous said...

Colbert on MERS via Salon

Anonymous said...

Hospital workers who came in contact with Orlando MERS patient cleared

ORLANDO, Fla. —
Orlando health officials said the 23 workers who were exposed to a virus that causes MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome, last week have all been cleared to return to work.
Sixteen healthcare workers, including two physicians from Dr. Phillips hospital who came in contact with a MERS patient from Orlando, tested negative for the virus and were cleared to return to work.
On Monday, health officials cleared seven other workers who came in contact with the patient.
The man, who was the second reported MERS case in the United States, has recovered from the virus.
16 LA County Residents Show No Signs of MERS After Exposure: Officials
The group shared an airplane with a Florida man who was the second confirmed case in the US to have contracted the mysterious virus