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MERS discussion thread

Re: MERS discussion thread

At the time and continued the aircraft medical evacuation yesterday morning flying in the skies of the province Qunfudah Aqlaaa and down to move the Arthritis virus «Corona» from the province to hospitals in Jeddah, has escalated complaints from parents and officials on the worsening situation and the increasing cases of infected gradually under silence health officials Qunfudah, who They considered that disclosure of the number of infected cases falls within the secrets of the patients, according to media spokesman Hussein al-Alwani, who confirmed receipt of instructions from the Department of Health Qunfudah not to disclose any details on the journalists and please take that into account ..:tiphat:
 
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Re: MERS discussion thread

IMHO much of this is political. The tenure of the KSA royal family is dependent on its protection of the Hajj and Mecca: that is the agreement with the wahabis, and it is this agreement that provides the world with regional stability and thus oil supplies. Therefore nothing must compromise either the Hajj or Mecca i.e MERS will not be allowed to become a problem that could stop Hajj going ahead, regardless. And therefore a lot of information will not be forthcoming about MERS cases, as the politics are deemed more important on a global political scale than the issue of some exported cases, and this situation will remain true IMHO for as long as there is no 'easy' h2h transmission.

By this point of time - i.e should easy h2h transmission be occuring, we will be in a pandemic, and it will already have spread widely, at which point there would be no point in introducing travel or other restrictions.. aka the Hajj and Mecca will remain open, regardless. Until we reach this point, there will be a lot of information witheld. However, perhaps what is most important here is that KSA opens up enough to the scientific community to allow R&D to learn more about MERS and develop effective counter strategies. I think this is starting to happen now.
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

Why would the government of KIS be stupid enough to block the transparency, exaggerate punishment and attempt to blatantly lie about MERS? Can they be so clueless to not understand that actions like these only make people fear the worst? Rumors of a disease out of control must be running rampant throughout the kingdom. As we see no sustained cases outside of Saudi Arabia I (at least at this point) do not think we are on the verge of a pandemic. However, those residing inside the nation are probably worried sick. Actions such as these might even be enough to destabilize governments. I cannot help but wonder if that is one reason police have been sent to college campuses. For as we all know, the youth of a nation are most often the first to decide enough is enough and make their voices heard.....which sometimes leads to dire consequences.
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

The Buying and Selling of MERS-COV

All governments lie from time to time. They do it for various reasons all considered to be valid. I believe Saudi Arabia is manipulating the truth regarding MERS-COV. I also believe they are not alone in selling the world a false bill of goods. Whether it is China and H7N9, chikungunya in Chile , Ebola in Ghana or, AIDS everywhere, government's have to appear to be on top of the situation. That is certainly the case for MERS in Saudi Arabia. I believe it is also true for most of the Middle East. The reasons for the lies are obvious-protect the status quo. In the case of KSA the stakes are high. It isn't just to keep their own people calm but, it is also to maintain the illusion that a pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites is safe. Just how much of our contract with the truth is valid, and how much is false?

The first list is what I am willing to buy as truth:


The virus is difficult to transmit. You can sit next to an infected person for eight hours on a plane and not become infected yourself. In addition to this, is that if the virus were easily transmissible, it would have already run its course in KSA.

The virus remains almost unchanged from its emergence over a year ago.

It is ubiquitous in dromedary camels.

The virus is identical in humans and camels.

You can get the disease from camels either through eating or drinking camel meat or milk.

The disease does not always present with pulmonary symptoms alone. High fevers and sometimes diarrhea are either all we see or, what we see as initial symptoms.


What I am not willing to buy as truth:

There are 807 cases total.

Only 12 cases by my count are children.

You get the disease from camel products alone.

There are no endemic cases in the rest of Africa and the Middle East.


If you accept the fact that the herds of virtually all dromedary camels in Africa and the Middle East show they are either currently infected or were infected in the past, with the exact same virus, then you must accept the fact that people all over the region have been exposed and made sick. The only other possible explanation is that there is some unique vector in all of Saudi Arabia. I find that dubious. A more likely scenario is we are unaware of many infections in those countries with large camel herds. The reasons we are unaware are because of politically motivated lies as well as ignorance. Lies are deemed necessary because no nation wants to be seen as harboring a disease with a 30% CFR. We are also dealing with a part of the world that is swimming in unrest. Syria, Libya, Egypt, and others are all actively experiencing riots, civil wars, and unstable governments. Add to this a possible disease with the potential to kill 30% of its victims and the result is added chaos. No sane government would deliberately publish anything that would add to the already unstable atmosphere. What we see instead are lists of hundreds of people in places like Jordan and Egypt that are suspected as having the disease and somehow all or nearly all are reported as false. These are obviously very sick people with probable pneumonia type symptoms or, they would not be listed as probable victims. They are also kept in isolation as a precaution until they either succumb or recover. If it isn't MERS that is making hundreds of people seriously sick then what is it? Then there is the ignorance factor.

How many countries in the region have the capability to detect and treat the disease? Yemen? Somalia? Syria? If an old person dies of what appears to be pneumonia in a village in Yemen does anyone think MERS? And if they did could they afford the treatment or even get the tests or support they needed to survive? The obvious answer is no. If a child in a camp outside Syria presents with diarrhea does anyone test for MERS? And speaking of children, how is it that the young are not infected? Aren't they the ones who are drinking the most camel milk?

Either camels and their products are partially responsible for infecting people or, we have some completely unknown vector which only inhabits KSA and only affects adults in Saudi Arabia. That is preposterous. There have to be far more unknown pediatric victims. They must then be primarily asymptomatic. This is supported by testing the family members of those who are seriously sick. What isn't known is exactly many of these there are. The government of the KSA does squash any rumors, sometimes viciously, that hints at sick children. It is one thing if an older sick member of your family is affected, it is something else entirely if it is one of your children.

We do know that the disease is transmissible at very close contact. We have lots of instances of nosocomial transmission. It takes more than simply breathing the same air. It takes intimate closeness. Changing bed linens soiled by secretions, sputum soaked handkerchiefs, breathing tube handling, and so on. For those reasons the spread of the disease in human-to-human transmission is limited. However, if a child is sick with a mild form of diarrhea who changes the sheets and washes the clothes? Who wipes the nose of a sick toddler? Mothers, grandmothers and sometimes in the homes of the wealthy, hired help. Does this change in Egypt? Of course not. Does this change in Syria? Hardly. How are the cases that are not nosocomial being transmitted? Camels? Well probably to some degree. But, what about the rest? Sand fleas endemic to the KSA? Doubtful. It is being transmitted by infected persons within homes. People who were originally infected by camels then passed it on to those they had intimate contact with, family members, patients and very close friends. People you might kiss on the cheek that might have a residue of sputum. Food obtained by servers or cooks who were not fastidious in hand washing. How sick you get might depend on the viral lode, your age and health status and the care you get after infection.

There is a lot we don't know about MERS. There is a lot we are being lied to about, and even more that is being covered up. The biggest lie is probably that the disease is only found within the borders of KSA. The reasons for that are ignorance and politics. The bill of goods we are being sold from those in power in Saudi Arabia are not done in ignorance but, because of fear. They are responsible for the holiest places in Islam. They are also in the center of the most unstable region in the world. All of these countries are at the mercy of a disease with a high CFR and a lot of unknowns. What they do know is if they don't get a handle on this soon it will undoubtedly cause even more destabilization. If you are Saudi Arabia then you have at all costs got to make pilgrimages safe. You also have to insure that no one suspects that children might be part of the equation. If you are Egyptian, Syrian, Jordanian... then you must at all costs appear to be in control of a very serious situation. Nothing must suggest that you too might have cases of MERS you aren't telling anyone about. So, all those cases you are testing must come back as negative. Only by selling lies to the public can you retain the status quo. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

I have to apologize. I failed to copy and paste the entire article I wrote. I left out the last paragraph. What can I say, I accidently deleted my first draft and I was paranoid I'd make the same mistake and allow my connection to FT time out again. I did add the final paragraph now so it is complete. Again sorry.
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

I don't think Dr. Abdullah got the party memo or he was brave enough to ignore it...

I really don't what to make of parts of this report. It says "

“Most people who got infected with Mers-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. Children, elderly people and those with weak immune system or chronic diseases are most vulnerable to the infection,” pointed out Dr. Abdullah.

He goes on to say.

"Adding further, he said: “The primary source of infection is still not known. So far there is growing evidence that the transmission of coronavirus is common with many other respiratory viruses such as the cold virus and influenza. The infection can occur either directly through droplets from coughing or sneezing or indirectly through touching contaminated objects or surfaces as well as close contact, such as touching eyes, nose and mouth or shaking hands. Mers-CoV has also spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person.



Twelve infections in children so far in our count. Either they know something we don't, Dr. Abdullah is incompetent or as I stated above, he is a refreshingly honest doctor unafraid of speaking the truth...




http://gulftoday.ae/portal/7fbd99e8-1146-4f09-bbac-418d31de5c67.aspx
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

Headlines in Kuwait are unequivocally stating there is no MERS in
Kuwait.

Read here:‘No Corona Virus patients’ - ‘Do not panic’ http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/206526/reftab/96/Default.aspx


One MP begs to differ.


KUWAIT CITY, May 7: MP Safa Al-Hashem revealed that there are 3 cases of the coronavirus in Kuwait currently. She asserted that the 3rd patient is in critical condition while the other 2 have already passed away, she noted that Kuwait’s laboratories for virus examinations are not optimized for following or examining subjects entering Kuwait, and that this is due to the lack of resources and attempts to muzzle Kuwaiti doctors who expressed their concerns over this negligence. She added that Kuwait is at a geographical disadvantage, considering Kuwait’s direct neighbor is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the coronavirus has already claimed numerous lives.

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/News...Hashem-asserts-3-MERS-cases-here/Default.aspx

While the second statement is dated May 7, it does point out that there is a serious problem within the country. One MP does not condone cover-ups, whereas the governments position on the subject is undeniable. No MERS here, just keep your mouth covered when you cough, wash your hands often and avoid people who look like they have a cold.

Stay away from people sneezing or having runny noses. http://www.arabtimesonline.com/News...e-sneezing-or-having-runny-noses/Default.aspx
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

The link is to a graph of victims of MERS. This morning I was wondering why the caseload seems to be dropping all of a sudden. Yesterdays bombshell notwithstanding, we have very few 'new' cases in the last week or so. Then something occurred to me. I have felt for months that there have to be a lot of undiagnosed cases in children. I remembered the first uptick in numbers last fall was the second week in September. The huge drop-off of cases is late May. Both of those correspond to children starting school and ending school. A coincidence? Perhaps. Then again maybe not.

http://knowmore.washingtonpost.com/...aph-of-mers-infections-is-really-frightening/
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih now appears to be taking credit for slowing the number of new cases of MERS in KSA. As this is only the second full year of MERS infections, his assertion may be self-serving. Especially as we had a significant drop last year in May in MERS cases. If the newest research article released in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is indeed correct, then the increased caseload is a direct result of new camel infections in newborn camels. Most camels give birth in late winter and early spring. The assertion is MERS infections surge in the camel herds as it finds susceptible victims in a new generation of camels. The paper also reports an uptick of virus in camel milk. Once the virus has infected most of the new herd members, infection drops until the following year when a new crop of baby camels appear. In other words MERS may be a seasonable disease. It remains to be seen if Health Minister Fakeith will have to explain why his health measures are no longer working next January when camel birth season arrives.
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

I am not sure what is going on but it appears the Minister of Health is embroiled in some kind of nepotism allegations at the Ministry of Labor. He posted on his twitter and facebook accounts. I wonder how serious this situation is that he felt the need to respond:

"B]My response to questions about the rumor brother Majid Pasha and his relationship with my family[/B]

June 9, 2014 at 10:10 am
Brothers and Sisters,

Deliberated some social media recently about a rumor of a link affinity or by blood or marriage between me and fellow brother Majid Pasha Following Tkleva his management file "change" the Ministry of Health.

The work in my policy is to respond only to everything it touches ministry or performance, while it does not see the need to respond to rumors that touch me personally. However, he continued preoccupation with this subject and with some of the growing number of observers of this rumor over the past few days and found it on your right to write this clarification noting a number of facts about this subject.

I would first like to emphasize the lack of validity of the rumor altogether, and to assure that it does not bind nor I have had one of my family members any kinship or affinity from near or far brother Majid Pasha as claimed launched this rumor. In addition, I would like to stress that the brother Majid Pasha receive a salary similar to that received by his peers of similar jobs, a figure much lower than the amounts claimed by the absolute rumor. For more of the patch, the brother Majid aged thirty-seven years, and not as stated in the rumor.

Brothers and Sisters,
I will continue to work to attract young people and enable them to leadership positions because I have a firm conviction that enrich the administrative bodies of these young energies will benefit the country and its citizens.
For the information, the brother Majid Pasha has been a polarization of the largest telecommunications companies operating in the Kingdom to work at the Ministry of Labour. Since briefly entrusted with the task of a new Ministry of Health after the successes achieved by the Ministry of Labour, and I pray to God Almighty to help him in his duties.

Brothers and Sisters,
The communication with you a great opportunity to take advantage of Mritm corrections. I and my colleagues are in need of your advice and Maazrtkm to follow glitches and opportunities for improvement and development, and I hope to continue this communication collaborators it is in the public interest, asking Mawla Almighty that makes it purely for face-Karim and benefit me and you, and use me and you to obey him.

Your brother just ... "

https://www.facebook.com/notes/adel...-ماجد-باشا-وعلاقته-الأسرية-بي/760380447339577
 
Re: MERS discussion thread

WHO ‏@WHO 1m
WHO to hold the sixth meeting of Middle East respiratory syndrome Emergency Committee of the Intl Health Regulations on 16 June 2014 #MERS
 
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