sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
I was going to post a rant on this subject but, instead, I will let the facts speak for themselves:
Saudi Arabia has listed at least 2 coronavirus MERS cases as deaths but not as previous cases:
Male, 70, Expat, announced as death on January 5, 2015, Dammam, Saudi Arabia link
Female, 25, Saudi, announced as death on January 18, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia link
This begs the question: How many more cases are there? According to WHO the case fatality rate of this disease is 37%.
After 2 years of this disease where is the long promised coronavirus MERS case control study?
The stability of Saudi Arabia is unknown. A king died recently and his half brother is now the king. Apparently he has replaced many of the sons of the deceased king with his own appointees. Media reports of fraud connected to the coronavirus MERS situation have been reported. I have no idea if this is an attempt to scapegoat outside entities for the continuing outbreak, or it is real.
In addition, it appears Saudi Arabia is surrounded by instability. Yemen, Iraq, Egypt - all sustaining violent uprisings. This probably creates internal pressure to promote a "don't worry, be happy" philosophy from the government. Some news reports:
Yemen's Main Parties Suspend Talks With Shiite Rebels
SANAA, Yemen ? Feb 2, 2015, 1:43 PM ET
http://abcnews.go.com/International/...-army-28658042
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isis 'attack Saudi border post and infiltrate town' via Iraq
By Maria Khan
January 29, 2015 21:26 GMT
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/brazil-beau...winner-1486378
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
?Three women killed? in clashes in Egypt?s Sinai
Monday, 2 February 2015
Two women were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while another died in crossfire between militants and security forces in two separate incidents in Egypt?s Sinai Peninsula, security and medical sources said on Sunday.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News...t-s-Sinai.html
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In Egypt there are possibly 3 or more confirmed bird flu H5N1 cases that have not been reported. An example is today's MoH report that lists 3 "healed" cases that were never reported before. The case fatality rate of reported H5N1 avian influenza so far in 2015 is approximately 50%.
There are violent incidents in Egypt every day. Too numerous to list here. Apparently a conservative religious group is protesting the military coop d'etat of 2013. Many thousands of this group have been jailed after their leader was removed from the presidency.
Recent media reports of grotesque violations of human rights by both Saudi Arabia and Egypt:
Saudi beheads murderer, 5th execution under new king
http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-beheads-...184623856.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaked video gives glimpse into Saudi beheadings
By Salma Abdelaziz, CNN
Updated 2:28 PM ET, Wed January 21, 2015
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/middle...heading-video/
---------------------------------------------------------
Egyptian Activist Shot and Killed During Peaceful Protest in Cairo
Jan. 25, 2015
http://time.com/3681599/egypt-activi...e-shot-killed/
----------------------------------------------------------
'Mass death sentences' for 183 in Egypt
By Salma Abdelaziz, Sarah Sirgany and Josh Levs, CNN
Updated 7:28 AM ET, Tue February 3, 2015
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/02/world/egypt-court/
----------------------------------------------------------
Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy gives up Egypt citizenship
3 February 2015Last updated at 04:11 ET
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31107980
----------------------------------------------------------
I could spend all day listing the human rights violations in both countries. I believe there is a direct link between the support (or lack) of human rights shown by a ruling junta and public health. It is no coincidence that in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt, there are cases of a highly fatal diseases that are not being timely reported. Additionally, the general population has been scared into submission by the brutality shown by the government. People in these countries know what can happen if they cause problems for the rulers. This probably leads to fewer diagnoses on the local levels being reported to anyone - anywhere.
It is my opinion that the ruling juntas of both Saudi Arabia and Egypt control the information flow and their disease "news" must be considered as press releases.
Saudi Arabia has listed at least 2 coronavirus MERS cases as deaths but not as previous cases:
Male, 70, Expat, announced as death on January 5, 2015, Dammam, Saudi Arabia link
Female, 25, Saudi, announced as death on January 18, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia link
This begs the question: How many more cases are there? According to WHO the case fatality rate of this disease is 37%.
After 2 years of this disease where is the long promised coronavirus MERS case control study?
The stability of Saudi Arabia is unknown. A king died recently and his half brother is now the king. Apparently he has replaced many of the sons of the deceased king with his own appointees. Media reports of fraud connected to the coronavirus MERS situation have been reported. I have no idea if this is an attempt to scapegoat outside entities for the continuing outbreak, or it is real.
In addition, it appears Saudi Arabia is surrounded by instability. Yemen, Iraq, Egypt - all sustaining violent uprisings. This probably creates internal pressure to promote a "don't worry, be happy" philosophy from the government. Some news reports:
Yemen's Main Parties Suspend Talks With Shiite Rebels
SANAA, Yemen ? Feb 2, 2015, 1:43 PM ET
http://abcnews.go.com/International/...-army-28658042
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isis 'attack Saudi border post and infiltrate town' via Iraq
By Maria Khan
January 29, 2015 21:26 GMT
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/brazil-beau...winner-1486378
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
?Three women killed? in clashes in Egypt?s Sinai
Monday, 2 February 2015
Two women were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while another died in crossfire between militants and security forces in two separate incidents in Egypt?s Sinai Peninsula, security and medical sources said on Sunday.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News...t-s-Sinai.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Egypt there are possibly 3 or more confirmed bird flu H5N1 cases that have not been reported. An example is today's MoH report that lists 3 "healed" cases that were never reported before. The case fatality rate of reported H5N1 avian influenza so far in 2015 is approximately 50%.
There are violent incidents in Egypt every day. Too numerous to list here. Apparently a conservative religious group is protesting the military coop d'etat of 2013. Many thousands of this group have been jailed after their leader was removed from the presidency.
Recent media reports of grotesque violations of human rights by both Saudi Arabia and Egypt:
Saudi beheads murderer, 5th execution under new king
http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-beheads-...184623856.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaked video gives glimpse into Saudi beheadings
By Salma Abdelaziz, CNN
Updated 2:28 PM ET, Wed January 21, 2015
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/middle...heading-video/
---------------------------------------------------------
Egyptian Activist Shot and Killed During Peaceful Protest in Cairo
Jan. 25, 2015
http://time.com/3681599/egypt-activi...e-shot-killed/
----------------------------------------------------------
'Mass death sentences' for 183 in Egypt
By Salma Abdelaziz, Sarah Sirgany and Josh Levs, CNN
Updated 7:28 AM ET, Tue February 3, 2015
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/02/world/egypt-court/
----------------------------------------------------------
Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy gives up Egypt citizenship
3 February 2015Last updated at 04:11 ET
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31107980
----------------------------------------------------------
I could spend all day listing the human rights violations in both countries. I believe there is a direct link between the support (or lack) of human rights shown by a ruling junta and public health. It is no coincidence that in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt, there are cases of a highly fatal diseases that are not being timely reported. Additionally, the general population has been scared into submission by the brutality shown by the government. People in these countries know what can happen if they cause problems for the rulers. This probably leads to fewer diagnoses on the local levels being reported to anyone - anywhere.
It is my opinion that the ruling juntas of both Saudi Arabia and Egypt control the information flow and their disease "news" must be considered as press releases.