The CDC has warned that Doctors should be watchful of patients who develop a severe acute lower respiratory illness within 10 days of returning from the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries. These individuals may be infected with a Corona virus illness not seen before in humans. This emerging human pathogen has now appeared in Britain, has demonstrably sickened 14 people, and killed eight.
This virus is a part of the same family as ‘SARS’ (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) the deadly outbreak that first emerged in Asia in 2003, and the common cold.
The new Corona virus is not exactly the same as SARS, but it too is similar to those viruses found in bats. Symptoms of infection with this new Corona virus illness include severe acute respiratory difficulties, with fever, cough and shortness of breath.
The CDC has set up a special website with updates on the infections at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ncv/ But, neither the CDC nor WHO (the UN World Health Organization) has issued travel restrictions related to the virus. Those folk returning from the Arabian Peninsula and developing acute respiratory infections, should continue to be evaluated according to current medical guidelines, but care should be taken to observe for worsening respiratory distress.
CDC – Coronavirus – Novel Coronavirus
www.cdc.gov
CDC Coronavirus: Coronaviruses are common throughout the world. They can infect people and animals. Five different coronaviruses can infect people and make them sick. They usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness.