To the SWHR Physician Community:
As part of our commitment to providing you support in caring for our communities, we wanted to give you important information about the coronavirus infection that began in China and is spreading globally and is receiving growing media coverage. This potential risk is relevant today as a Texas A&M student was tested for the infection over the weekend. Although the test results were negative, cases have been reported in Washington, Illinois, California and Arizona.
This novel coronavirus, thought to be transmitted from an unknown animal source to humans, is now believed to be spreading from person-to-person causing an outbreak of respiratory illness. The initial outbreak emerged from the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China, with first reports on 12/31/19 of 59 patients being affected. Since that initial report, thousands have now been reported to be infected in an expanding international footprint. Similar to influenza, coronavirus is thought to be spread by respiratory droplets produced during coughing or sneezing.
Coronaviruses are well-known causes of the common cold, but can evolve into novel strains as with SARS and MERS-CoV. Intensive, ongoing investigation to learn more about this latest virus, such as the source of infection, populations at risk, and manifestation of symptoms is on-going.
There is currently no preventive vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for 2019-nCoV, so prevention is a key strategy. To protect yourself:
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Get your influenza vaccine.
The current CDC recommendation is to screen upon checking in (see below).