By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA (Reuters) – There may have been limited human-to-human transmission of a new coronavirus in China within families, and it is possible there could be a wider outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause infections ranging from the common cold to SARS. A Chinese woman has been quarantined in Thailand with a mystery strain of coronavirus, Thai authorities said on Monday, the first time the virus has been detected outside China.
In all, 41 cases of pneumonia have been reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which preliminary lab tests cited by state media showed could be from a new type of coronavirus, and one patient has died. There have since been no new cases or deaths, Wuhan health authorities said on Tuesday.
“From the information that we have it is possible that there is limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, acting head of WHO’s emerging diseases unit.
The WHO is however preparing for the possibility that there could be a wider outbreak, she told a Geneva news briefing. “It is still early days, we don’t have a clear clinical picture.”
Some types of the virus cause less serious diseases, while others – like the one that causes MERS – are far more severe.
The U.N. agency has given guidance to hospitals worldwide about infection prevention and control in case the new virus spreads. There is no specific treatment for the new virus, but anti-virals are being considered and could be “re-purposed”, Van Kerkhove said.
With Chinese New Year approaching on Jan. 25, when many Chinese tourists visit Thailand, the WHO called on Thai authorities, the public and holidaymakers to be on alert.
Richard Brow, the agency’s representative in Thailand, said anyone with a fever and cough who had spent time in Wuhan should get checked out by a health worker.
(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng in Bangkok and Vincent Lee; Editing by John Stonestreet and Pravin Char)
A NEW CORONAVIRUS IN A CHINA CITY – WHO ALERTS HOSPITALS ACROSS THE WORLD IN JANUARY 2020.
News reports have brought out warning on 14 January 2020 issued by WHO of a new corona virus that has struck in a city of China. The symptom of the disease is said to be pneumonia and it could have been through exposure to seafood market in Wuhan city of China. The virus was detected following about 41 cases of pneumonia were treated in Wuhan city in China. It was first detected in early December 2019. And a limited human-to-human transmission has been mentioned which can be read to imply that a limited contact with such patients has the potential of spreading. The warning to hospitals world-wide is reported to have been issued. In this context , it is apt to refer readers to this Vedic astrology writer’s predictive alert of 11 November , 2019 through article – “ Astrological probable alerts for 2020” – published on 1 January 2020 at wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/5176/. The text of the related alert reads like this in the article :-
“ More care and appropriate strategy may be taken during April to June , particularly May-June in 2020 against …………………such stuff as are known for repugnant and repulsive smell through air…………………foodstuff , seafood …….could be either hit or face serious issues”. In another article covering Italy through article – “ Potential of stars for Italy in soon coming year 2020” – published on 15 December 2019 at astralis.it , November –December 2020 have been alerted like this :-“ This scenario can also mean worrisome ailments involving respiratory system in the body”. So , in short , it may be alright to take precautions particularly during a period of three months from April to June and last two months of November-December 2020 when the probability of the virus likely impacting vulnerable pockets across the world cannot be ruled out.