Date | 31 December 2019 - |
---|---|
Location | Wuhan, China |
Casualties | |
|
2019-2020 China pneumonia outbreak, also known as China pneumonia or Wuhan pneumonia (Chinese: 武漢肺炎; pinyin: wǔhàn fèiyán) is an outbreak of pneumonia, which is occurring in Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China.[1][2][3] The first case presented in Wuhan on 12 December 2019.[4] On 31 December 2019, state media in China disclosed a series of cases with unexplained pneumonia. On that day, 27 cases were confirmed with seven in critical condition and two expected to be discharged. The rest of the cases were stable.[5]
As the cluster of those affected have centred around a wholesale animal and fish market, which sells chickens, bats, marmots, and other wild animals, it has led to the suspicion that the cause maybe a novel coronavirus from an animal source. As of 1 January 2020, the market has been closed for cleaning and disinfection.[6][7]
As of 5 January 2020, 59 cases have occurred with seven in a critical condition, 163 contacts commenced monitoring and there were no reported cases of human-to-human transmission or presentations in healthcare workers.[6][8] Affected people have presented with fever and sometimes difficulty breathing, common to several respiratory illnesses at this time of year. X-rays of the chest have revealed signs in both lungs.[6][7] The cause of the pneumonia is currently unknown; however, viruses like seasonal flu, SARS, MERS and bird flu had been ruled out.[8][7][9] No new cases have been reported since 5 January 2020.[10] The outbreak has not shown signs of escalation.[6][7]
Responses
The World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of the cluster on 31 December 2019 and with early limited information, shortly responded with providing a risk assessment. On 6 January 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel watch at level 1, with recommendation on washing hands and the advice to avoid animals, animal markets, and contact with unwell people if travelling to Wuhan. Some areas and countries near China have tightened screening in travellers from Wuhan.[6][7]
On 7 January 2020, Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported 30 unwell travellers from Wuhan, most of which tested positive for other respiratory viruses and 13 of whom were shortly discharged. To give greater authority on quarantine, the CHP also added "unidentified pneumonia" to their list of notifiable diseases.[6][10] Hospital visits have been made brief with visitors requiring to wear face masks, and airports and train stations that connect to Wuhan have tightened screening.[4]
Reports of other sick travellers from Wuhan have included one child in Singapore confirmed with RSV not linked to the current outbreak.[4] Eight people in Taiwan were reported with mild symptoms, half of whom were confirmed with chiefly seasonal flu.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Pneumonia of unknown cause – China. Disease outbreak news". World Health Organization. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "Mystery pneumonia virus probed in China". BBC News. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "China Pneumonia Outbreak Spurs WHO Action as Mystery Lingers". www.bloomberg.com. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "What to Know About the Wuhan Pneumonia Oubreak". Time. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "China probes pneumonia outbreak for Sars links: State media". The Straits Times. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Questions still swirl over China's unexplained pneumonia outbreak". CIDRAP. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f "Pneumonia of Unknown Cause in China - Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions - Travel Health Notices | Travelers' Health | CDC". wwwnc.cdc.gov. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "China pneumonia: Sars ruled out as dozens fall ill in Wuhan". BBC. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ Wee, Sui-Lee; Wang, Vivian (6 January 2020). "China Grapples With Mystery Pneumonia-Like Illness". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Schnirring, Lisa; 2020. "Nations step up screening and await word on China's pneumonia outbreak". CIDRAP. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
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External links
- Chan, Ho-him; Mai, Jun (5 January 2020). "China says Wuhan pneumonia not Sars, but virus remains unidentified, more people hospitalised". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- "Statutory Reporting of “Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent". CHC, Hong Kong 2020