An outbreak of atypical pneumonia in Wuhan, China has been closely monitored by the World Health Organization since late December 2019. The causative agent has been identified as a novel Coronavirus (“nCoV-2019”).   To date, there have been 42 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 1 mortality, and 1 travel-related importation case from Wuhan to Thailand. Sustained person-to-person transmission has not been demonstrated to date, but cannot be ruled out. The outbreak source appears to be a live seafood and animal market. While the CDC assesses the current threat as low, we are advised to stay vigilant and notify appropriate authorities of suspect cases.

• Ask patients presenting with acute respiratory illness/pneumonia about their travel history
• Notify institutional Infection Control Practitioners, Medical Microbiologists and Medical Health Officers if one of your patients present with:
  • Fever and acute respiratory illness, with or without pneumonia AND
  • Travel to Wuhan, China within 14 days prior to symptom onset OR
  • Another potential relevant exposure (e.g., close contact with someone who was ill and had recently travelled to Wuhan.
• Practice fastidious hand hygiene and place patients with acute respiratory illness/pneumonia on appropriate additional precautions:
  • Place the patient in single-occupancy if possible
  • Place the patient under contact and droplet precautions (including eye protection) for all care activities and additionally, N95 masks with eye protection should be donned during aerosol-generating procedures, including specimen collection
• Laboratory testing can be facilitated by your institutional Medical Microbiologist in conjunction with the BCCDC Medical Microbiologist