WorldClinic has been closely monitoring the emerging novel coronavirus in China.
There have been over 300 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) across six countries (including China), initially linked to a specific seafood market in Wuhan, China. The market has been indefinitely closed.
Symptoms include fever and respiratory issues such as cough and shortness of breath. The incubation period is estimated to be 14 days.
The United States has implemented entry screening at numerous international airports (including Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy, San Francisco) for travelers from that region. Additional enhanced monitoring and screening have also been put in place around the world.
Cases have been confirmed in China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and recently, a single case in the U.S. (Washington state). Travelers going to Wuhan should avoid animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals, as well as contact with individuals who are ill. Chinese authorities have asserted that the main transmission has been animal to human, but a number of the known exported cases have no animal contact, so there is some degree of human-to-human transmission.
There are distinct parallels to the SARS outbreak of 2004, but the response to this outbreak has been much more aggressive. At this point, U.S. individuals and businesses do not need to take any specific actions unless there is associated travel to the region.
We will pass along updates as they become available.
