As of today, there are seven confirmed cases of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States. The 2019 n-CoV is also referred to as the Wuhan Coronavirus as it initiated in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the 2019 n-CoV outbreak a global health emergency.
The number one thing you must remember: stay alert, but not anxious.
2019 N-CoV Facts:
- A coronavirus is the same as the common cold (and other more severe illnesses such as MERS and SARS). A novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.
- The virus began in the Wuhan’s Hubei province and has spread to every one of China’s 31 provinces
- Confirmed 2019 n-CoV symptoms have included fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
- There is no current vaccine for the 2019 n-CoV. From the WHO, “when a disease is new, there is no vaccine until one is developed. It can take a number of years for a new vaccine to be developed.”
- It is currently believed that transmission can occur prior to symptoms appearing.
- Experts believe the 2019 n-CoV originated in bats and was transmitted to snakes, then humans.
CDC Recommendations:
“While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat: It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting vaccinated, taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.”
United States Impact:
- There are currently seven confirmed cases in the US. Three cases in California, one in Arizona, one in Washington state and two in Illinois.
- The CDC has tested 241 individuals. 7 tested positive, 114 negative, and 120 are pending results. This is as of 7:00 pm EST.
- 36 States of patients under investigation.
- The first case was a Snohomish County (WA) resident.
- The seventh case was just confirmed in Santa Clara County California today, Friday, January 31st.
- US Department of Health and Human Services has declared the 2019 n-CoV a public health emergency
- The first human-to-human transmission of the 2019 n-CoV was in Illinois. The case was from the female patient to her husband.
- The CDC is utilizing 20 airports to screen passengers arriving from China. These airports capture 95% of incoming passengers. The flow of passengers from the Wuhan area has slowed dramatically. The airports are: Los Angeles International, John F. Kennedy International, O’Hare International, San Francisco International, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Anchorage Ted Stevens International, Boston Logan International, Dallas-Fort Worth International, Detroit Metropolitan, El Paso International, Honolulu International, Houston George Bush International, Miami International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia International, Puerto Rico’s San Juan International, San Diego International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Washington Dulles International.
Us Government Implements Travel Ban
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Friday that the United States is “temporarily suspending the entry into the United States of foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the 2019 novel coronavirus.”
This ban will be for those who have been in China within the last 14 days. Additionally, any US citizen who has been in the Hubei Province in the last 14 days will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine upon return to the United States. US citizens returning from the rest of mainland China who has been there in the last 14 days will undergo screening at US ports of entry and up to 14 days of self-monitoring.
Global Impact:
- China has confirmed Nearly 10,000 cases of the 2019 n-CoV.
- 249 deaths from the Wuhan coronavirus have been reported. All cases have been secluded to China.
- There are confirmed 2019 n-CoV cases in China, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, The Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.
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