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On 20 January 2020, Nationwide IHR Focal Level (NFP) for Republic of Korea reported the primary case of novel coronavirus within the Republic of Korea. The case is a 35-year-old feminine, Chinese language nationwide, residing in Wuhan, Hubei province in China.
The case-patient had developed fever, chill, and muscle ache on 18 January whereas in Wuhan. She visited an area hospital in Wuhan and was initially recognized with a chilly. On 19 January , the case-patient was detected with fever (38.three °C) upon arrival on the Incheon Worldwide Airport. The case-patient was transferred to a nationwide designated isolation hospital for testing and therapy. She was examined optimistic for pancoronavirus reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain response (RT-PCR) assay, and subsequently was confirmed optimistic for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on 20 January by sequencing on the Korea Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (KCDC). Upon detection, the affected person had chills, runny nostril, and muscle ache.
The case-patient didn’t report visiting any markets, together with Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, nor did she have recognized contact with confirmed 2019-nCoV circumstances or wild animals in Wuhan metropolis.
The case-patient is presently underneath isolation, receiving therapy and is in a steady situation.
Public well being response
- Contact tracing and different epidemiological investigation are underway;
- The federal government of the Republic of Korea has scaled up the nationwide alert degree from Blue (Stage 1) to Yellow (Stage 2 out of Four-level nationwide disaster administration system);
- The Republic of Korea well being authority has strengthened surveillance for pneumonia circumstances in well being amenities nationwide since three January 2020;
- Quarantine and screening measures have been enhanced for vacationers from Wuhan on the level of entries (PoE) since three January 2020;
- Public threat communication has been enhanced.
WHO threat evaluation
That is the fourth internationally exported case of 2019-nCoV from Wuhan Metropolis, China by vacationers. Because the preliminary report of circumstances on 31 December 2019, and as of 20 January 2020, 278 laboratory-confirmed circumstances of 2019-nCoV an infection together with six deaths have been reported to WHO globally from China, two circumstances from Thailand, one case from Japan, and one case from the Republic of Korea. In China, 51 are extreme circumstances, and 12 circumstances are critically sick. They’re all underneath isolation therapy at designated medical establishments in Wuhan. Among the many circumstances reported in China, 14 circumstances have been reported from Guangdong province, 5 from Beijing municipality and one from Shanghai municipality.
The supply of the outbreak continues to be underneath investigation in Wuhan Metropolis. Preliminary investigations have recognized environmental samples optimistic for nCoV in Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan Metropolis, nevertheless some laboratory-confirmed sufferers didn’t report visiting this market. Instances proceed to be reported from Wuhan Metropolis, and from different provinces in China. Further investigations are wanted to find out how the sufferers have been contaminated, the extent of human-to-human transmission, the scientific spectrum of illness, and the geographic vary of an infection.
WHO recommendation
It’s prudent to remind populations and well being staff of the essential rules to cut back the overall threat of transmission of acute respiratory infections by following the under talked about measures:
- Avoiding shut contact with folks affected by acute respiratory infections;
- Frequent hand-washing, particularly after direct contact with sick folks or their atmosphere;
- Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals;
- Individuals with signs of acute respiratory an infection ought to observe cough etiquette (keep distance, cowl coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothes, and wash fingers);
- Inside healthcare amenities, improve customary an infection prevention and management practices in hospitals, particularly in emergency departments.
WHO doesn’t suggest any particular well being measures for vacationers. In case of signs suggestive of acute respiratory sickness both throughout or after journey, the vacationers are inspired to hunt medical consideration and share their journey historical past with their well being care supplier. Well being authorities ought to work with journey, transport and tourism sectors to offer vacationers with data to cut back the overall threat of acute respiratory infections through journey well being clinics, journey companies, conveyance operators and at factors of entry.
WHO has offered interim guidance for novel coronaviruses
WHO advises towards the applying of any journey or commerce restrictions on Korea based mostly on the knowledge presently obtainable on this occasion.
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