The CDC is monitoring an outbreak of a novel coronavirus (respiratory illness) named 2019-nCoV. It was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and believed to have originated from a live animal market. Unfortunately, it seems to have evolved from animal-to-person spread to person-to-person. This situation is still emerging and rapidly evolving and as such links will be attached below to monitor events as they occur. Please click on this link to see information regarding the number of people under investigation.
Confirmed 2019-nCoV Cases Globally Global Map As of 11:00 a.m. ET January 31, 2020
Symptoms
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can appear as little as two days or as long as fourteen days after exposure.
Criteria for Persons Under Investigation (PUI)
FAQ
Have any cases been reported in the United States?
Yes, the first case was noted on January 21, 2020. Please click on this link to see the current count of infection.
How to report a case at my facility?
Health care providers should contact their local/state health department immediately to notify them of patients with fever and lower respiratory illness who traveled to Wuhan, China within 14 days of symptom onset.
What type of clinical specimens does the CDC want collected?
To increase the likelihood of detecting 2019-nCoV infection, CDC recommends collecting and testing multiple clinical specimens from different sites, including all three specimen types—lower respiratory, upper respiratory, and serum specimens. Additional specimen types (e.g., stool, urine) may be collected and stored. Specimens should be collected as soon as possible once a PUI is identified regardless of time of symptom onset.
Will the CDC assist in specimen collection?
CDC’s EOC will assist local/state health departments to collect, store, and ship specimens appropriately to CDC, including during afterhours or on weekends/holidays. At this time, diagnostic testing for 2019-nCoV can be conducted only at CDC.
What type of infection control does the CDC recommend?
Although the transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, CDC currently recommends a cautious approach. Such patients should be asked to wear a surgical mask as soon as they are identified and be evaluated in a private room with the door closed, ideally an airborne infection isolation room if available. Healthcare personnel entering the room should use standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and use eye protection (e.g., goggles or a face shield).
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