SARS in Saudi Arabia?

[hminsky]

There's reports of a SARS-like virus in Saudi Arabia.


Alarming Beta2c Coronavirus Cluster In Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia

Alarming Beta2c Coronavirus Cluster In Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia
Recombinomics Commentary 11:15
May 2, 2013

Saudi Arabia said five more people have died of a deadly new virus from the same family as SARS, and two other people were in intensive care.

The seven cases were discovered in al-Ahsa governorate in the Eastern Province, the Saudi news agency SPA quoted the Saudi Health Ministry as saying in a statement late on Wednesday.

The above comments describe seven new beta coronavirus cases in eastern Saudi Arabia. Detail is lacking, but the large number of cases strongly suggests human transmission between contacts. The human transmission is also supported by the lack of detail. Prior clusters have involved family members. However, the size of this cluster raises concerns that more contacts are infected.

The large number of deaths also indicates the reporting of these cases has been delayed, and the failure of WHO to provide detail is alarming. The novel SARS-like coronovirus is a reportable disease on IHR regulations, but delays in reporting of Saudi Arabia cases is common.

Apparently, detail on disease onset dates and the relationship between the seven cases is long overdue, as is information on the number of additional suspect cases under .investigation.

I suppose if a highly lethal pandemic is going to break out someplace, that's as good or better than anyplace else...

 

[Rob Boudrie]

There's reports of a SARS-like virus in Saudi Arabia.


Alarming Beta2c Coronavirus Cluster In Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia


I suppose if a highly lethal pandemic is going to break out someplace, that's as good or better than anyplace else...

True, because of travel restrictions. Saudi Arabia doesn't grant tourist visas, and it would be very easy to shut down all student visas, and check those few traveling on business or diplomacy for signs of infection. Compare that to the difficulty in shutting down travel between the US and England, Germany or India.

 

[mclina]

True, because of travel restrictions. Saudi Arabia doesn't grant tourist visas, and it would be very easy to shut down all student visas, and check those few traveling on business or diplomacy for signs of infection. Compare that to the difficulty in shutting down travel between the US and England, Germany or India.

I thought he was referring to the target audience more so than their ablility to contain it

 

[shamrockjr]

I thought he was referring to the target audience more so than their ablility to contain it

I thought the same. I hate to see innocent people suffer but there seems to be an awfully high % of Saudi Arabians that subscribe to that whole terrorist thing. Just sayin'.

 

[Jason Flare]

I thought he was referring to the target audience more so than their ablility to contain it

I think Bob Boudrie can be credited with the save.

 

[hminsky]

Boudrie is always the voice of reason.

 

[Hiltonizer]

There's a new highly lethal birdflu in china too, pandemic is definitely on the shortlist of shit to prep for.

 

[WallHack]

I thought the same. I hate to see innocent people suffer but there seems to be an awfully high % of Saudi Arabians that subscribe to that whole terrorist thing. Just sayin'.

"I hate to see innocent people suffer, BUT some of those innocent people might not like the country I live in so **** 'em" Fantastic.