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| Wakayama Prefecture - Credit Wikipedia |
(Note: We are awaiting details on at least 8 additional cases reported in Tokyo)#14,871
Earlier this week (see here and here) we saw two COVID-19 cases (#29 & #34) linked to a hospital in Wakayama, Japan. Case #29 was a doctor who worked there, and #34 was a patient who was examined there in late January.
Today, Japan's MOH announces 3 more cases with links to that facility. Another employee (reportedly a surgeon) of the hospital (#38), that doctor's wife (#39), and what appears to be a patient of case #29 (#39).Given the onset dates - and late January exposure history of case #34 - it would appear the novel coronavirus has been circulating unnoticed in this Wakayama hospital for more than two weeks.
According to NHK News (see 2nd doctor in Wakayama has new coronavirus), the hospital stopped accepting outpatients on Friday, and has begun testing of `. . . . other doctors at the hospital, and also plans to examine nurses, other staff, and any patients who have had contact with the infected patient.'
Between this outbreak, and the recent spate of cases reported in Tokyo, there are increasing concerns over substantial community spread in Japan.
Today's (translated) statement form the MOH follows:
About outbreak of patient (38, 39, the 40th case) related to new type coronavirus
Today (February 15), Wakayama Prefecture reported three cases of this new type of coronavirus-related infection.
Outbreaks of infectious diseases related to the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Japan in a total of 40 cases.
We will carry out proactive epidemiological investigations on this matter, including the identification of close contacts.
Overview
Patient 1
(1) Age: 50s
(2) Gender: Male
(3) Place of residence: Wakayama Prefecture
(4) Symptoms, course:
- February 4 Fever.
- February 5 38 ° C fever persists.
- February 6 Lung field is shadowed by CT. Refer to another medical institution.
- February 10 CT shows pneumonia
- . February 12 Visited a medical institution in the prefecture.
- February 14 Hospitalization at another medical institution. Inspection of new coronavirus.
(5) Behavioral history:
- A PCR test was conducted at a local health research institute in Wakayama Prefecture, and the result was positive on the same day.
- Working at a medical institution where the 29th doctor in Japan worked (under detailed investigation).
- I went to work on February 4, 5, 7, and 10.
Patient 2
- According to the report from the person, no travel history.
(1) Age: 50s
(2) Gender: Female
(3) Place of residence: Wakayama
(4) Symptoms, course:
- February 7 There was a slight fever.
- February 14 Morning 36.6 ° C → Daytime 37.1 ° C, with mild coughing.
- Her husband conducts tests as a close contact with patients with the new type of coronavirus infection, and as a family to carry out the tests.
- A PCR test was conducted at a local health research institute in Wakayama Prefecture, and the result was positive on the same day.
(5) Action history:
- At the time of medical examination, the body temperature was 37.5 ° C and there was a cough symptom.
- Details are currently under investigation. My husband (patient 1) worked at a medical institution where the 29th doctor in Japan worked.
- According to the report from the person, no travel history.
Patient 3
(1) Age: 60s
(2) Gender: Male
(3) Place of residence: Wakayama Prefecture
(4) Symptoms, course: Details are currently under investigation
(5) Action history:
- Medical care with the first doctor Patients in hospital.
