Novel Coronavirus Update- January 30, 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced today the coronavirus outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China now constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. The aim of the declaration is to heighten awareness and trigger recommendations to all countries to reduce cross-border spread of the disease. Health officials have reported over 7,800 infections globally, with 170 deaths reported due to this infection. A number of countries, including the United States, have been actively screening incoming travelers from Wuhan and infections with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in 18 countries.
The United States has announced several confirmed cases in Arizona, California, Illinois, and Washington state. The latest patient is the husband of the patient in Illinois, marking the first person to person spread of the virus in the United States.
While CDC considers this is a serious public health concern, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is still considered to be low at this time.
The CDC recommends that health care providers should obtain a detailed travel history for patients being evaluated with fever and acute respiratory illness. Patients in the United States who meet specific criteria should be evaluated as a PUI (person under investigation) in association with the outbreak of 2019-nCoV in Wuhan City, China.
Granville Health System has taken a proactive response to this emerging pathogen. Processes are in place to screen all patients presenting to all registration desks in the Emergency Room, front admissions office, physician practices, and direct admits to inpatient areas for travel to areas abroad or contact with anyone, especially those displaying symptoms, that has traveled abroad in the last 14 days.
