The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is closely monitoring the 2019 novel (new) Coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
The first case in the United States was announced on January 21, in Washington state. There are ongoing investigations by the CDC to learn more. On January 28, The Columbus Dispatch reported Ohio health officials investigating two possible cases of Coronavirus in Ohio. ODH is providing guidance to state and local health agencies and healthcare providers.
Amy Acton, MD, MPH, director of ODH, declared novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a Class A reportable infectious disease on January 23.
Classifying a disease as Class A means that confirmed or suspected cases of nCoV must be reported immediately to the local health district where the person lives (or the local health district where the person is being evaluated if the person’s residence is unknown or not in Ohio). Required reporters include physicians providing care, administrators in charge of hospitals, clinics or other institutions providing care or treatment, laboratory administrators, or any individual having knowledge of a person with nCoV.
The CDC has advised healthcare providers to obtain a detailed travel history for patients being evaluated with fever and acute respiratory illness, and to immediately notify their local or state health department in the event that they have a patient under investigation for 2019-nCoV .
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2014 and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, and now with 2019-nCoV.
When person-to-person spread occurred with SARS and MERS, it is thought to have happened via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of SARS and MERS between people has generally occurred between close contacts.
In response to this outbreak in China, officials have started exit screening for travelers leaving the city of Wuhan and several countries and territories in the region are reported to have implemented health screening of travelers arriving from Wuhan. The United States started screening travelers arriving from Wuhan on January 17.
Upon arrival to the United States, travelers from Wuhan may undergo health screening, including having their temperature taken and filling out a symptom questionnaire. Travelers with signs and symptoms of illness (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) will have an additional health assessment.
- Seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
- Avoid contact with others.
- Not travel while sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- A case or suspected case of 2019-nCoV is reported to a local health department.
- The local health department alerts the ODH.
- ODH reports to the CDC.
- Currently, testing for this virus must take place at CDC.
- The most effective means of protection is the same as those things that prevent other illness such as flu.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover coughs/sneezes with your arm.
- Avoid exposure to others who are sick.
- Stay home when you are ill.
- Ohio’s public health system includes a team of local and state partners who perform daily monitoring of reportable diseases, including 2019-nCoV (educating about what public health does).
- ODH is monitoring this situation, in lockstep with the CDC, and will be ready to respond if a case should be reported in Ohio.
- The CDC considers the U.S. risk low at this time.
ODH will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the CDC. More information can be found on the CDC and ODH websites.
For addition information, please view Prepare Your Office for Novel Coronavirus in this issue of the Weekly Family Medicine Update.
A simple strategy to protect you from coronavvirus, influenza and other respiratory infections.
Yes, the T Zone awareness is a 10 on a scale of 1-10 for TRUE respiratory infection prevention. As you all are now talking about ANY surface you touch is a potential source, now you can empower people “how to protect themselves” when there is no soap and water, wipes or sanitizer.
For 33 years of Family Medicine I have come been teaching patients to understand that this simple hand hygiene behavior (Do Not Touch the T Zone) is a most critical solution for an individual’s personal health. As your hands are clean only until you touch the next surface. BUT if you NEVER touch your T Zone it doesn’t matter how many surfaces you touch.
I have seen MANY patients benefit once they “understood” the mechanism.
There continues to be a lack of understanding of the mucous membranes (eyes, nose and mouth = T Zone)! The ONLY portal of entry into the human body for ALL respiratory infections!
CDC doesn’t talk about the T Zone, neither does HHS or local Public Health departments! So how can we expect the public to understand?? Or to improve the result.
Please share this pearl of wisdom and science!!