28 May 2013 (12:28 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Rajab 1434/07 Khordad 1392/19 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

“…the imminent threats are the H7N9 influenza virus and the new coronavirus emerging in the Middle East.”-Ian Lipkin, Center for Infection and Immunity

French news media reporting that the man who returned from Dubai, infected with the new bat related virus, MERS, has died.  It was that case which confirmed that MERS is airborne and can infect human to human, because another man sharing the hospital room with the MERS infected man is now sick.

In Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), a woman suffering from chronic illness was finally done in by MERS.  KSA Ministry of Health are also reporting five new cases.

By my count, the number of deaths are at 24, out of 49 cases.

The UN World Health Organization says it will now help KSA prepare for possible massive outbreak of MERS during the upcoming Islamic Haj pilgrimage (in October).

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention is now warning all U.S. medical personnel to be on the lookout, as any person who returned from the Middle East (West Asia) showing sings of illness could have MERS.

In China, a new research center is being opened by National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and the U.S. Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health’s Center for Infection and Immunity.

It’s been years in the planning and is called Joint Research Laboratory for Pathogen Discovery.  The operators say the timing is just right, since it appears the World is being hit with several new diseases right now.  Researchers believe the greatest need is finding ways to fight H7N9 and MERS.   China is paying for the new research center.