Wuhan - Credit Wikipedia
#14,652
A hat tip and huge thanks to Shiloh at FluTrackers for finding and posting (on this thread) the latest announcement from the Wuhan Health Commission, which actually provides us with some fresh information regarding the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan City, China.
This is the 199th post by the newshounds at FT on this outbreak since the first reports emerged 2 weeks ago.From this latest statement we learn of at least one family cluster, involving the husband who works at the Seafood market and his wife - who denies recent exposure to the market. We also learn that while most of the cases have a history of exposure to the market, it isn't true for all of them.
We are also informed that most of the confirmed cases are male, and many are either middle-aged or elderly. As we've seen with MERS-CoV, older patients with comorbidities appear more likely to develop severe disease.
While some of these points are suggestive of human-to-human transmission, it is extremely difficult to prove it when there are other plausible ways people might have become infected (e.g. shared environmental exposure, fomites, contaminated food products, etc.).
The lack of reported nosocomial infections is encouraging, but doesn't rule out the possibility.
(translation)
(translation)
Questions and answers on pneumonia outbreaks of new coronary infections
(January 14, 2020)
Issuing authority: Wuhan City health committee | Published: 2020-01-15 00:10:06 | Hits: 307
1. Recently, a tourist from Wuhan was diagnosed with pneumonia in a new type of coronary case infection in Thailand. Please provide relevant information.
On January 13, 2020, Thailand reported a case of pneumonia with a new coronavirus infection from Wuhan. The city attaches great importance to timely investigation. The patient is a citizen of our city and is now receiving treatment in Thailand with a stable condition. At the same time, the health department conducted medical observations on all close contacts of the patient found, and there is no abnormal performance at present.
2. At present, in order to detect pneumonia cases of new coronavirus infection as early as possible, what measures have been taken in our city?
After the outbreak, our city quickly carried out screening of relevant cases in all medical institutions in the city. As of January 10, 2020, the expert group synthesized the clinical manifestations, epidemiological history, and laboratory test results of patients to determine the new coronavirus. 41 cases of infected pneumonia. At present, the city has further strengthened case monitoring and search work. On the one hand, it continues to do a good job of monitoring for pneumonia of unknown cause; on the other hand, it conducts case searches in various medical institutions at all levels in our city in order to detect cases early.
3. As of now, has there been any case of human-to-human transmission?
Existing survey results show that clear human-to-human evidence has not been found, and the possibility of limited human-to-human transmission cannot be ruled out, but the risk of continued human-to-human transmission is low. Further research is currently underway combining clinical and epidemiological data.
4. Has a family clustering case been found?
Among the 41 cases currently diagnosed , one was found to be clustered in the family. The husband and wife developed the disease first, and the husband first developed the disease. He was an employee of the South China Seafood Wholesale Market. His wife denied a history of South China Seafood Wholesale Market exposure.
5. What are close contacts? Why medical observation of close contacts for 14 days? If close contacts develop symptoms during the observation period, how can they be diagnosed and diagnosed?
At present, the close contacts defined in this epidemic are those who live with patients, work and study in the same room, live in the same room, and who have not taken effective protective measures during the diagnosis and treatment of cases. Laboratory testing personnel, other patients or accompanying staff in the ward, other contact situations determined by disease control professionals in the same transportation with the patient and close contact with the person.
With reference to the incubation period of diseases caused by other coronaviruses, information about this new coronavirus case, and current prevention and control practices, the medical observation period for close contacts is set to 14 days, and home medical observations are made for close contacts. During the observation period, once the close contacts are found to have abnormal clinical manifestations such as fever and cough, the close contacts will be sent to the designated medical institution for investigation, diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner.
6. What are the characteristics of the epidemic that have been found so far? What is the development trend of the epidemic?
Of the 41 cases diagnosed, most were male, and the number of middle-aged and elderly people was higher. In the early stage of the case, fever and cough are the main symptoms, which can be manifested as persistent mild disease in the early stage. Older patients with underlying disease are more likely to progress to severe disease.
Preliminary results of existing etiology studies and epidemiological investigations show that most of the cases are related to the South China Seafood Wholesale Market exposure, a few cases deny a history of South China Seafood Wholesale Market exposure, and some cases have been exposed to similar cases. No community transmission has been identified.
7. After closing the South China Seafood Wholesale Market, are there any findings in the market? What measures have other markets taken?
After the South China Seafood Wholesale Market was closed, the city strengthened its disposal of market environmental hygiene, carried out disinfection and sanitary disposal of the market, and carried out garbage cleaning and disinfection. In order to strengthen the traceability work, environmental specimens are collected and tested in the market. At present, the test results found that some samples were positive for new coronavirus. At the same time, preliminary investigations have been conducted in other markets, and no clues related to the source of the infection have been found.
