Coronavirus outbreak 2020: The latest info for doctors

1. The virus origins

Rumblings about an unknown, pneumonia-like illness affecting 59 people in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. SARS, an infectious disease which swept through the country in 2009 was quickly ruled out. Government censors blocked discussion of the disease on Chinese social media.  

While the initial infections are believed to originated in an animal markets, the Chinese government says it is now passing from person to person.

2. Coming to America

The first U.S. case of the coronavirus was announced Jan. 21 in a man in his 30s in the state of Washington. He developed symptoms after returning from a trip to Wuhan. After his diagnosis, health officials stepped up health screenings at major airports across the country.

Since then multiple other cases have been announced in Chicago, Arizona, and California

3. Symptoms, part 1

The CDC has two sets of criteria for patients who should be investigated as possible cases of the coronavirus. Here is the first:

• If patient shows signs of fever AND symptoms of lower respiratory illness (cough or difficulty breathing), AND In the last 14 days before symptoms presented, patient had a history of travel from Wuhan OR within the last 14 days before symptoms onset came into close contact with a person under investigation for the disease while that person was ill.

4. Symptoms, part 2

The CDC has two sets of criteria for patients who should be investigated as possible cases of the coronavirus. Here is the second:

• If patient shows signs of fever OR symptoms of lower respiratory illness (cough or difficulty breathing and in the last 14 days before symptoms presented had come into contact with an ill laboratory-confirmed coronavirus patient.

5. Reporting recommendations

Doctors should immediately contact infection control personnel at their healthcare facility and their local  health department if they have identified a patient under investigation for the coronavirus.

The CDC will handle diagnostic testing for the coronavirus, but testing for other respiratory pathogens can lead to a PUI being cleared from having the disease.

6. Testing

CDC recommends collecting and testing multiple clinical specimens from different sites, including all three specimen types:

• lower respiratory

• upper respiratory

• serum specimens

Additional specimen types (e.g., stool, urine) may be collected and stored. Specimens should be collected as soon as possible.

7. Latest update

As of Jan. 27, the New York Times has reported 80 deaths connected to the disease and 3,000 people are now infected with the virus with the vast majority living in China.

The mayor of Wuhan has offered to resign as the public chafes against travel bans and what some see as the government bureaucracy’s failure to respond quickly to the disease.