Pneumonia cases possibly associated with a novel coronavirus reported in Wuhan, China

Published: January 10, 2020

Summary:
As of 5 January 2020 and since the first report on 31 December 2019, 59 pneumonia cases possibly associated with a novel coronavirus have been reported in Wuhan, China with a common exposure link to Wuhan’s South China Seafood City market. Seven severe cases have been reported, but no deaths. No cases have been reported outside of Wuhan. According to Chinese authorities, no human to human transmission could be documented.

Epidemiological investigations including contact tracing activities are ongoing and hygiene- and environmental sanitation activities in the affected market have been carried out in Wuhan.

Considering there is no indication of human-to-human transmission and no cases detected outside of China, the likelihood of introduction to the EU is considered to be low, but cannot be excluded.

Advice:

• Travellers planning to visit Wuhan, should avoid visiting wet markets or places where live or dead animals and birds are handled. They are advised to adhere to good hand and food hygiene, and avoid contact with animals, particularly with poultry, their excretions or droppings.
• Travellers with respiratory symptoms returning from Wuhan or travelling in China with stay in Wuhan should seek medical attention and indicate their travel history to Wuhan to the health care specialist.
• Health care providers should be aware of the ongoing event with cluster of cases with pneumonia of unknown aetiology. The clinical signs and symptoms include mainly fever and difficulty in breathing. Invasive lesions of both lungs were identified from chest radiographs.
• Based on the limited information available at the moment, standard infection prevention and control and appropriate hygiene measures might be sufficient if cases were identified in EU countries. Isolation of cases and appropriate personal protective measures following the national recommendations will additionally minimise the risk of nosocomial transmission.

Further information is available from ECDC.