The coronavirus is a respiratory virus that causes the common cold, but has also been linked to more serious illnesses like SARS. The news about the coronavirus has been coming in at an alarming rate this week, with reports of people dying from it and some countries issuing travel warnings for those who are visiting or plan to visit these areas. With so much happening in such a short amount of time, we’ve put together this roundup of all the major news happening now on coronaviruses and what you need to know.
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Saudi Arabia reports 31 deaths from coronavirus and nine new cases, according to the World Health Organization
Egyptian authorities say they have identified a man with MERS who traveled by air from Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia. They’re checking all passengers on his flight for symptoms of infection
The Ministry of Heath in China says it has confirmed its first case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outside the kingdom’s borders. A Chinese citizen became infected through contact with an imported patient while working as a doctor overseas. Authorities are trying to track down those he came into contact with during his time overseas – WHO spokesperson Dr Keiji Fukuda said that “until we know more about this cluster, any unnecessary travel to Saudi Arabia should be avoided.”
The first confirmed case of MERS in the US was reported. It concerns a health care worker who had been caring for an infected patient – The WHO is “concerned” about reports that the virus has spread from its epicenter, Jeddah, and says it needs verification before any conclusions can be drawn.
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed today two new cases of coronavirus. The news comes one day after they announced nine more cases worldwide. This brings total number of lab-confirmed infections up to 17 since September 2012 when European researchers found what they believed could be this newly emerging disease which then became known as “Middle East respiratory syndrome” or MERS.
The WHO says it’s “concerned” about reports that the virus has spread from its epicenter, Jeddah. They say they need verification before any conclusions spread spread from from its its epic epicenterenter,, J Jeddeddahah..
ThisThis is is an an event event of of major major concern concern because because it it has has never never been been seen seen before before,”,” WHO WHO assistant assistant director director–generalgeneral Ke Keijiiji Fuk Fukudauda told told reporters reporters in in Geneva Geneva today today.. ” “WeWe are are looking looking to to see see if if the the virus virus may may have have changed changed when when it it jumped jumped to to humans humans.”.”
TheThe news news that that M MERS mightERS might be be spreading spreading beyond beyond Saudi Saudi Arabia Arabia comes comes as as a a surprise surprise given given that that most most cases cases have have originated originated there there and and health health care care officials officials had had hoped hoped this this was was due due to to limited limited human human contact contact with with cam camelsels – – animals animals which which can can host host the the coron coronavavirusirus but but not not pass pass on on infection infection to to people people..
ItIt’s’s worth worth noting noting,, however however,, that that so so far far all all known known infections infections among among medical medical staff staff were were contracted contracted while while caring caring for for patients patients or or preparing preparing dial dialysisysis equipment equipment used used by by the the infected infected person person.
This This suggests that the coronavirus is not unusually contagious., but it does still show some potential for spreading to others. , and we may see more cases similar these in coming weeks. But so far, infections among medical staff seem rare despite one case of a hospital worker becoming infected at work
The The CDC has also said there are no reports of anyone being hospitalized due to infection with this virus across all 50 states.. These findings differ from an earlier report by WHO which indicated hospitals had seen about 500 patients who were receiving care or dialysis treatment when they got sick,, suggesting higher rates of transmission than previously believed