Posted on 05/08/2013 10:26:15 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
France's health ministry on Wednesday reported the country's first case of a SARS-like virus that has killed 18 people so far, mostly in Saudi Arabia.
An unidentified person who came back to France from a trip to the United Arab Emirates was diagnosed with the deadly novel coronavirus, the ministry said.
"This is the first and only confirmed case in France to date," it added.
The patient is currently in intensive care in hospital and has been placed in isolation.
The virus, known in medical jargon as nCoV-EMC, was first detected in September 2012 and since then more than 30 cases have been reported in different countries, with 18 deaths.
While it has been deadliest in Saudi Arabia, where 11 people have been killed by the virus, other cases have been reported in Jordan, Germany, Britain and now France.
It is a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which triggered a scare 10 years ago when it erupted in east Asia, leaping to humans from animal hosts and eventually killing some 800 people.
Like SARS, the new virus appears to cause an infection deep in the lungs, but it also differs from SARS in that it also causes rapid kidney failure.
The World Health Organisation does not so far have enough information to determine how the virus is transmitted or from where it originates, but it has called for international vigilance.
Check the newish movie “Contagion”, which is obviously made about this virus and giving some prognostication of how many tens of millions will die. It was made before the thing showed up. And by an Abu Dhabi company.
ping
Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.
The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.
So far the false positive rate is 100%.
At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.
*sigh* Such is life, and death...
So we have two separate independent virus-strains potentially capable of being the Next Big One, appearing from different places.
Great, as Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said earlier today at Benghazi hearing: “Death Is A Part Of Life”.
So suck it up, fellas.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2820204/posts?q=1&;page=51
The link is a great interview with Mother Abigale that first started posting on FR years ago about epidemics, SARS, etc. The following is (if I understand it correctly) is about the HIV virus that has “combined” with another virus to become airborne. The “multiple simultaneous mutations” is the part that always peaks my interest when reading the current news.
Excerpt:
From our first conversation I was aware that MA [Mother Abigale] was awaiting a viral outbreak of a scale that would change our species. So what - I know people who believe aliens visit us from time to time. Everyone to their own.
But this outline of events is lacking the huge leap of faith that I always assumed she had made. I suppose it could be possible...
Q: MA, are you saying that there are to be multiple simultaneous mutations worldwide?
MA: Yes.
Q: And I assume this large scale outbreak is what overpowers the health care systems?
MA: There will never be a real opportunity for containment. This is not Hollywood. No hero will develop a magical antidote just in time to save the beautiful woman. No, this event is of such a consequence that, by the time the scale is apparent, the issue will be settled.....
But by the time the extent of what has happened is well known - there will be no recourse.
Child, there is no recourse even now. We cannot kill this creature. We have only kept it at bay for these many years and that era of detente is rapidly ending.
Q: But MA, you make it sound so hopeless. How could you believe such a thing?
MA: There are things that I believe and things that I know. This virus and its coming change are something I know. I know in detail and specificity that defies all common understanding - yet my knowledge remains...
...This outbreak is of a different scale. The penetration of the virus into human culture and population, the speed of the spread of the airborne variant, and the closeness of human contact in our modern age are all factors that, except for a few isolated pockets, mark the end of the rise of Homo Sapien Sapien....
... there will be those few who, at first report of the strange deaths, will depart immediately to a place they have chosen and stocked with provisions. This will not be groups but the next step down - families. This place will have ample water and be so removed from human contact that the virus will burn through our species without finding them in their place of refuge....
We have spent a very long time discussing how in our species there is a range of abilities in the area of perception. Perception will be the only determinant in this bottleneck. The time is so close that most of the staging for the refuge will have started long ago. They have chosen their spot, they are stocking the larder and they only wait. For they also know....
...It has come full circle now and what you write will give comfort and hope to so many folks who often wonder if their thoughts are dark because of an emptiness in their heart or because the future is dark. To them your words will be a soothing balm....
Q: I have one last question before I go, how will these folks know. Are you going to write, or will it be on the news or what?
MA: That is to be easy. All the systems are now in place. The Internet is here, the pandemic blogs are all up and watching and we only wait. It will be out of Egypt, because of the powerful infrastructure watching for H5N1 outbreaks, where most people will hear the first news. When you hear of the sudden outbreak in Egypt, leave immediately. Use only self service gas pumps, do not stop and do not have any human contact from that point on.
If you are alone, or with your family run to a refuge. Wait for it to burn out. Be patient and then patient some more. Let the darkness pass over the earth. It will be quicker than any Hollywood disaster movie could ever portray. But it will pass.
Q: Well that is pretty clear. Egypt huh?
MA: That is where you will first know.
Q: I looked at my drink and the ice had all melted. I was not sure what time it was or how long we had been talking, but I was mentally and physically exhausted. I let out a big sigh....
It’s very early yet, ProMed is tracking the virus but I don’t know about tests.
SARS, which I’m pretty well convinced was a Chinese weapons test on the loose, they managed to stop with pure luck. I don’t think any real tests were in place during the crisis.
MA? You still here?
I think the statistic for the average flu is something like 20,000 here in the USA alone for perspective.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.