Blog #7: New Coronavirus Outbreak Traced to Middle East

"Mysterious Coronavirus from Middle East Claims Another Victim"
by Ryan Jaslow, March 13. 2013

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57574060/mysterious-coronavirus-from-middle-east-claims-another-victim

CBS news online, along with the WHO and Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have announced the identification of a new coronavirus (CoV) that appears to have originated in the Middle East. Infections have been confirmed in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Kingdom. The latter cases occurred in travelers to the Middle East and their families. This virus is distinct from the CoV that caused the deadly outbreak of SARS around the globe ten years ago, causing 800 deaths worldwide. This CoV strain has proven to be deadly also. This coronavirus is similar to rhinoviruses that cause common colds and respiratory ailments. Firm statistics on the virulence, pathogenicity or mortality rates (if available) have not been released, nor has any information of the exact source of the new virus. The CDC and WHO have published guidelines for increased disease surveillance, case reporting and precautionary measures that should be taken if traveling to the Middle East or dealing with a suspected case of infection with the new CoV.

Analysis

Newly emerging infectious diseases are routinely reported in global health news. The full scope of threats from these is often difficult to predict. The SARS CoV outbreak of 2003 took many governments and agencies by surprise. It spread quickly across the globe, causing widespread panic in Asia, Canada and the Middle East and large economic impacts before the causative organism was identified and actions were taken to control the virus. The outbreak highlighted specific weaknesses in governmental and international health organization monitoring and reporting systems. Although news of a novel, deadly virus is never welcome, rapid identification, stricter monitoring/reporting and guideline announcements regarding appearance of the new CoV represent significant improvements from 2003. Increased international, governmental and sociopolitical cooperation, bolstered support, along with improved guidelines from the WHO and CDC and better understandings about how rapidly a new infectious agent can spread may help prevent higher rates of incidence, morbidity and mortality when dealing with this new threat.

Antony Lynn Cochran
SOC 202-02
03/15/2013, 14:50