The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges health care providers to notify state and local health departments if patients experience severe respiratory symptoms within two weeks of travel to Wuhan City, China.
Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization 59 cases of pneumonia of unknown cause, including seven critically ill patients, possibly linked to a Wuhan City seafood market. Some patients were vendors at Wuhan South China Seafood City, which also sells chickens, bats, marmots, and other animals, suggesting a possible zoonotic origin. The market has closed for disinfection.
While there are no known cases in the United States, CDC issued a level I travel notice for Wuhan City. The agency encourages providers to collect nasopharyngeal, nasal, and throat swabs, as well as lower respiratory tract specimens, from potentially infected patients. The agency will share updated guidance through the Health Alert Network.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.