Is Coronavirus Coming to RI? 63 Potential Cases Being Monitored in U.S. Across 22 States

Is Coronavirus Coming to RI? 63 Potential Cases Being Monitored in U.S. Across 22 States

The new strain of the coronavirus that began infecting people in the city of Wuhan in December in now spending across the globe. 

It has sickened nearly 1,300 people in China, killing at least 41, and is now reported in countries around the world, including France and Australia. 

In the United States, a second confirmed case was disclosed on Friday — a woman in Chicago who was infected in Wuhan. 

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There are 63 potential cases being monitored in the U.S. stretching 22 across states, according to Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

"Thanks for reaching out. Dr. Messonnier forwarded me your request.  We have not and do not plan on releasing the names of states, just the number," Kristen Nordlund of CDC Public Affairs said in an email to GoLocal.

 

Spread and Concerns in Rhode Island

"We have been coordinating closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Rhode Island healthcare providers when it comes to coronavirus. This has included sending to local healthcare providers summaries of the national situation, criteria to guide evaluation of patients, and guidance on reporting, testing, and specimen collection," Joseph Wendelken, the public information officer for the Rhode Island Department of Health told GoLocal.

"If Rhode Island has any confirmed cases of coronavirus, that information will be reported. As a matter of policy, we report out on confirmed illness cases," 

 

The New York Times reports, "On Saturday, Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, declared a health emergency in the semiautonomous Chinese city and said schools would be closed until mid-February.

The city is treating five coronavirus patients connected to Wuhan, and more than 100 others are suspected of having the viral pneumonia.

Hong Kong is also suspending flights and train services to Wuhan and will cancel all Lunar New Year celebrations. The Hong Kong Marathon, originally scheduled for early February, has also been called off."

The medical journal The Lancet published a study on Friday suggesting that people infected with the coronavirus might be able to spread it even if they do not have flu symptoms, reports the NewYork Times.

 

CDC Risk Assessment

The CDC reports: 

Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including whether and how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).

Investigations are ongoing to learn more, but person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person-to-person. It’s important to know this in order to better assess the risk posed by this virus. While CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness precautions.