CDC recommends getting flu vaccinations and taking everyday actions to stop the spread of germs.
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus named 2019-nCoV first identified in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in more than a thousand confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other nations, including the US where 110 cases, many in travelers from Wuhan, have been confirmed in four states (AZ, CA, IL, WA) as of January 27, 2020. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.
Risk Assessment
Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including whether and how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).
Investigations are ongoing to learn more, but person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China. Person-to-person spread in the United States has not yet been detected, but it’s likely to occur to some extent. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s important to know this in order to better assess the risk posed by this virus. While CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness precautions.
What to Expect
More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. Given what has occurred previously with MERS and SARS, it’s likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur. It would not be surprising if person-to-person spread in the United States were to occur. Cases in healthcare settings, like hospitals, may also occur. The virus is suspected of being able to be transmitted by an infected person several days before they have any symptoms.
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, agreed there are many questions. “This is one of those inflection moments in outbreak history where we have enough information to be very concerned, but not enough information to say this is going to be an international crisis,” he said.
CDC Recommends
While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:
- For everyone: It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting flu vaccinations and taking everyday actions to stop the spread of germs. Use anti-bacterial wipes frequently on hands and shared surfaces such as toys, phones, keyboards, handles on doors, etc. Don’t share hand towels but use paper towels instead.
Vaccine coming…
but not soon
The NIH is in the process of taking the first steps towards the development of a vaccine, but it will take a few months until the first phase of the clinical trials get underway and more than a year until a vaccine might be available.
China taking extreme precautions
Wuhan, the city of over 11 million where the virus began, has travel prohibited both in and out, already causing serious food shortages.
China is also making an emergency “crash” effort to develop a vaccine very quickly.
Includes excerpts from CDC and news sources.
Canceling student loan debt makes little sense
Why? Because most borrowers earn incomes high enough that they can afford to make their student loan payments normally. Also many students, including those with low incomes, are eligible for our already existing generous student debt forgiveness at some future point.
Cancelling the $1.6 trillion in student loan debt would cost US taxpayers ten times the total cost of the Viet Nam war.