What to know about Novel Coronavirus

In the last few weeks there have been growing concerns amongst the populace about a new virus first reported in Wuhan, China called novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). There have also been misunderstanding about the virus with heightened panic in some places. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) situation report as at Sunday   January 26, 2020, […]

In the last few weeks there have been growing concerns amongst the populace about a new virus first reported in Wuhan, China called novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). There have also been misunderstanding about the virus with heightened panic in some places.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) situation report as at Sunday   January 26, 2020, a total of 2,014  confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases have been reported globally;  it increased by 694 cases from Saturday.

WHO said of the 2,014 cases reported, 1,985 cases were reported from China, and twenty-nine confirmed cases have been reported outside of China in ten countries. Of the 29 exported cases, 26 had a travel history from Wuhan City, China, it said. Wuhan city is a major transport hub in China.

The confirmed cases were reported in Japan, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Republic of Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Nepal, United States of America, and France.  About 80 deaths have been reported to date.

The latest risk assessment conducted by WHO showed that it is very high in China, high at the regional level and high at the global level.

While the virus has not yet spread to the country, it is important to know what it is and how to prevent it.  Nigeria has also been known to have strong trade relations with China and the affected Asian countries with a lot of movement between the countries.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning; they are normally transmitted between animals and people. A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain of the virus that has not been previously identified in humans. Some coronaviruses can be transmitted from person to person, usually after close contact with an infected patient, for example, in a household or health care setting. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

The first case of a novel (new) coronavirus (2019nCoV) strain was confirmed in China on January 7 this year, and preliminary investigations revealed that most of the patients either visited or worked in the Huanan Seafood wholesale market in Wuhan city.

NCDC said the new coronavirus 2019nCoV appears to cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms like cough, cough and breathing difficulties.  From current evidence, it appears that death is a rare outcome, mostly in patients with underlying illness.

The centre advised the public to adhere to the following measures to  protect  themselves from coronavirus or reduce the risk of  the spread of the disease:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water
• Cover your mouth and nose properly with handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing. You may also cough into your elbow if a handkerchief is not available.
• Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing
• Avoid self-medication, report to the nearest health facility when you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms
• Healthcare workers are always advised to observe standard infection prevention and control measures when attending to patients and take a travel history.

The centre, however, added that there is no specific treatment for disease caused by the novel coronavirus yet. “However, many of the symptoms can be treated. Therefore, treatment is based on the patient’s clinical condition. In addition, supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective,” it said.

WHO said the basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections include the following:

• Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
• Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
• Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).
• Within healthcare facilities, enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments.

Its recent situation report on the virus said WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers. “In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, the travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider,” the organisation advised.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said it has been notified of the virus by the World Health organization and that the Port Health services of the Federal Ministry of Heath has been placed on red alert for increased screening at entry points.

The centre in a statement said it was currently coordinating a multisectoral technical group that is assessing and managing the risk of importation to Nigeria. NCDC is in close communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) who is closely monitoring the situation globally. WHO is in direct communication with the Government of China and other affected countries, and has released technical and travel guidance.

It advised Nigerians to remain calm adding that travelers from Nigeria to Wuhan, China, should avoid contact with sick people, animals (alive or dead), and animal markets. It said: “Travelers from Wuhan to Nigeria, may be asked questions upon arrival by the Port Health Services unit at points of entry about symptoms of illness and travel history, and are advised to report immediately to NCDC if they feel ill after a trip to Wuhan.”

The centre also said the federal government has intensified efforts towards tackling infectious disease outbreaks.