2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) CDC Daily Key Points
January 30, 2020
Content in Red is newly added or updated
MAIN KEY POINTS
• There is an expanding outbreak in China of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus abbreviated “2019-nCoV.”
• This virus is spreading from person-to-person in China and some limited person-to-person spread has been reported in countries outside of China, including for the first time in the United States today.
• 2019-nCoV is NOT spreading in the community in the US at this time.
• Finding person-to-person spread in the U.S. of 2019-nCoV is not surprising. CDC has been preparing for the introduction of this virus in the United States for weeks.
• This is a rapidly changing situation and we are monitoring the situation closely. Guidance will be updated as needed.
• Outbreaks like this – when a new virus is emerging to infect people – are always concerning. Some people might be worried about this virus and how it may impact Americans.
o While this situation poses a very serious public health threat, CDC believes the immediate risk to the U.S. public continues to be low at this time.
o Risk also depends on exposure. People exposed to ill persons are at greater risk of infection. (For example, healthcare workers and family members caring for people with 2019-CoV.)
o However, the situation is evolving, and risk will depend on how well the virus spreads, how widely it spreads, and how sick it makes people.
• CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is implementing an aggressive public health response in collaboration with federal, state and local partners. The goal of the ongoing U.S. public health response is to prevent sustained spread of 2019-nCov in this country.
• The coming days and weeks are likely to bring more confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in the United States and globally, including more person-to-person spread in the United States.
• CDC has been invited to China to support Chinese public health counterparts and help improve understanding of this new disease, including learning more about transmissibility and severity.
• CDC supports the decision today (January 30, 2020) by the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC).
• A PHEIC is declared if an event poses a public health threat to other nations through the spread of disease and potentially requires a coordinated international response.
SITUATION UPDATE
• Officials in China have reported transmission with 2019-nCov before symptoms appear. This is different from what has been previously observed with MERS and SARS viruses, the two other coronaviruses that have emerged to cause severe illness in people.
• CDC is gathering data on whether asymptomatic spread with 2019-nCoV may be happening. Contact investigations ongoing in the U.S. and other countries will help answer this question.
• CDC and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are continuing to conduct enhanced entry screening of passengers who have been in Wuhan within the past 14 days at 5 designated U.S. airports. Given travel out of Wuhan has been shut down, the number of passengers who meet this criterion is dwindling.
• Going forward, CBP officials will monitor for travelers with symptoms compatible with 2019-nCoV infection and a travel connection with China and will refer them to CDC staff for evaluation at all 20 U.S. quarantine stations.
• At the same time, ALL travelers from China will be given CDC’s Travel Health Alert Notice, educating those travelers about what to do if they get sick with certain symptoms within 14 days after arriving in the United States. 350,000 travel education cards are ready for distribution.
• This strategy allows CDC to focus efforts on the rapid detection, isolation, and contact tracing of cases that are identified in the United States.
• Being aware of people who are sick with this novel coronavirus, alerting travelers who may develop symptoms after arrival, and rapidly responding to any suspect 2019-nCoV illness will help CDC to more effectively protect the health and safety of travelers and the American public.
• As of January 30, 2020, 6 infections with 2019-nCoV have been reported in the U.S. in four states – Arizona, California, Illinois, and Washington.
• The 6th infection with nCoV was detected in IL in a contact of the first 2019-nCoV patient. The second cases reportedly had prolonged and close contact with the first patient.
• CDC has uploaded the full genetic sequence of viruses from all 5 U.S. patients into GenBank.
• CDC is working with state and local health departments on investigations to trace contacts of the 6 U.S. patients to detect person-to-person spread.
• CDC is using its text illness monitoring (TIM) system to track the health of field staff conducting epidemiologic studies. TIM was developed as a tool to more easily remind outbreak responders and other potentially exposed people to report any signs and symptoms of illness to public health personnel.
• CDC will continue to lean forward on public health response efforts to protect Americans. We are working closely with state and local health departments and have teams on standby to deploy if needed. Our public health goal continues to be to protect the health of Americans by containing this outbreak.
• To date, 21 international locations (in addition to the U.S.) have reported confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV infection, including most recently Philippines, Finland and India
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:
o It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
o If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for people with who recently traveled from China and fever and respiratory symptoms.
o If you are a healthcare provider caring for a 2019-nCoV patient, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
o For people who may have 2019-nCoV infection, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others. This guidance in on the CDC website.
o For people who have had close contact with someone infected with 2019-nCoV who develop symptoms, contact your healthcare provider, and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure to a 2019-nCoV patient.
For more information please visit the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Page at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html