Camel connection?
a Ncov Abu Dhabi patient had been in close contact with a sick camel racing.
Lars Plougmann
March 26, a 73 year-old from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has died at the Klinikum Schwabing, a Munich hospital. It was the 11th known death related to infection by the novel coronavirus (Sxy), a pathogen that was first reported in September 2012 and aroused significant interest to researchers. Overall, officials have reported 17 cases of infection Ncov.
Clemens Wendtner, Professor of Medicine and Associate Medical Director at the University of Cologne, is a doctor at the Munich hospital. Science Insider Wendtner asked how the case was handled and why he thinks the patient may have been infected with one of his racing camels. Questions and answers were written for brevity and clarity
Q:.? Why does the patient get treatment in Germany and why did he come to the Klinikum Schwabing
CW: We are one of the seven reference centers for infectious diseases in Germany; Klinikum Schwabing has a unit for highly infectious patients, and one of the first SARS patient was treated here in 03. This particular patient was treated in Munich for multiple myeloma, who had been diagnosed in 09. he flew to Germany on a frequent basis for chemotherapy and even stem cell transplantation in a private center
While in Abu Dhabi, his condition deteriorated and his hematologist deal here in Munich asked steal for a closer look. the family also wanted to be transferred to him. At this point, we knew he had lung problems, but we were not aware of any coronavirus test; this has not been done in the United Arab Emirates
Q:.? When did you suspect it might have the virus
CW: When we examined his condition and had his medication list; he had even begun to [the influenza drug] Tamiflu, but her condition did not improve. So we said: "Maybe it's a good idea to check for the coronavirus." So we made a bronchoalveolar lavage [a procedure to sample fluid from the lungs,] and sent the material to the laboratory of Christian Drosten at the University of Bonn; This is the German reference laboratory for the new coronavirus. The results came back March 23. At this point, the patient's condition was very bad
Q:.? Did you take special care when you knew he was infected to prevent further infections
CW: This was done from the beginning. We are trained in infectious diseases of difficult situations, so what we do when we do not know what happens. He was in an intensive care unit and placed in special isolation; staff use special precautions, such as 3M masks. We also tested the staff for the virus, but no one was positive
Q:.? How many people did you test
CW: We had a group of about 60 people, not just staff. ... The patient flew in a private jet, and we planned the crew members and four parents who came with him. But we did PCR testing only for people who had symptoms like cough and flulike symptoms. There was less than 10 thereof, and all were negative. The others have been on screening for surveillance, but if they develop symptoms, they are not tested
Q:.? Ask these precautions have now finished
CW: Yes
Q :. Is it worrying that some patients altogether with the new coronavirus have sought medical treatment in Germany and the UK? With SARS, you saw people who infect others on plans or seeding new homes in countries where they arrived.
C.W :. This virus is not in the same category as SARS in terms of risk of spread. But a point is very valid: Screening tests, especially in the [Arabian Peninsula], are underdeveloped. Therefore, there may be a greater number of undetected cases. I was approached by U.A.E officials. they were worried about this first case, because most of the cases were in Saudi Arabia, and they are very interested in getting tests implemented in their countries. We will help them, in collaboration with the Drosten professor at Bonn
Q :. . "Ruling family" The German tabloid Bild said the patient was a "sheikh" from a
CW: Well, to Bild , the truth is not their biggest concern. ... He is a wealthy Abu Dhabi, fail. He has the money to hire a Learjet and get treatment in Germany. But it is not a member of the royal family
Q :. You have said in interviews that he has been infected by contact with a camel. What is the evidence for that
C.W:. So far, there is only circumstantial evidence. The patients in camel races. One of them fell ill and was very weak; the patient was in close contact with the camel, the camel and the evening was very ill, the patient developed flu symptoms. Three days later, he was in a medical unit in Abu Dhabi. There is another family member who was also in close contact with the camel, he also got sick, but we could not keep up with this gentleman.
We are really interested to find the missing link, for perhaps a material -some blood, some stools of this camel. Professor Drosten may send one of his fellow scientists in Abu Dhabi. We will also help the U.A.E. . Consulate in Munich
Q: So the UAE is ready to cooperate in this ?
CW: Yes, they understood that it is in their interest to get a better understanding of how the disease could spread from animals to humans
Q: is this still the camel alive
CW:. Yes, at least he was alive a few days ago
Q: When this investigation start?
CW :. As you can imagine, we are very interested in solving this problem, so it would probably happen in the next two days
Q: Have you heard of other camels Abu Dhabi or UAE get sick
CW: no, I do not have information about it. Even the consulate could not tell me. But maybe they did not pay attention to before. This just emerged as a problem, so they can have a look at more closely in the future
Q:.? Have you made a patient's autopsy
CW: We would have liked to get some hardware, but as you can imagine, it is very difficult in [the patient's] Culture to get any kind of autopsy. Thus, the family refused and we did not insist.
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