Syrian Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated in Saudi Arabia

The twins were attached in the lower chest, abdomen, liver, and intestine areas. SPA
The twins were attached in the lower chest, abdomen, liver, and intestine areas. SPA
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Syrian Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated in Saudi Arabia

The twins were attached in the lower chest, abdomen, liver, and intestine areas. SPA
The twins were attached in the lower chest, abdomen, liver, and intestine areas. SPA

A surgical team has successfully separated Syrian Siamese twins Ihsan and Bassam at the King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital at King Abdulaziz Medical City of the National Guards in Riyadh.

The twins were attached in the lower chest, abdomen, liver, and intestine areas.

The surgery was done in implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Head of the surgical team, Advisor at the Royal Court, and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, expressed happiness following the successful separation of Ihsan and Bassam.

The surgery lasted seven hours and 30 minutes and took place in five phases with the participation of 26 Saudi doctors specialized in the separation of twins.

He noted that this is the 58th successful surgery of the Saudi program for the separation of Siamese twins, which enjoys the support and follow-up of the King and Crown Prince.

Al Rabeeah thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for the generous support provided for the program. He also thanked the members of the medical and surgical team for their efforts and perseverance.

For their part, the twins' parents expressed their appreciation and gratitude to King Salman and the Crown Prince, and commended the Kingdom's great humanitarian work.



Bird Flu Virus Shows Mutations in First Severe Human Case in US, CDC Says

Fest tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Fest tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Bird Flu Virus Shows Mutations in First Severe Human Case in US, CDC Says

Fest tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Fest tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient's property.

The CDC said the patient's sample showed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, the part of the virus that plays a key role in it attaching to host cells.

The health body said the risk to the general public from the outbreak has not changed and remains low, according to Reuters.

Last week, the United States reported its first severe case of the virus, in a Louisiana resident above the age of 65, who was suffering from severe respiratory illness.

The patient was infected with the D1.1 genotype of the virus that was recently detected in wild birds and poultry in the United States, and not the B3.13 genotype detected in dairy cows, human cases and some poultry in multiple states.

The mutations seen in the patient are rare but have been reported in some cases in other countries and most often during severe infections. One of the mutations was also seen in another severe case from British Columbia, Canada.

No transmission from the patient in Louisiana to other persons has been identified, said the CDC.