Risk low, but hospitals put Wuhan coronavirus on watch list: top doctor
Although the risk in Canada is low, the new coronavirus first seen in the Chinese city of Wuhan has been added to the Severe Respiratory Illness Protocol used in Saskatchewan hospitals, according to the province’s chief medical health officer.
“I think the average person on the street doesn’t need to be concerned because there’s no transmission happening in Canada,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab during a Wednesday morning news conference.
“The concern really is, at this point, for people who are travelling, especially to China and especially to Wuhan,” he told reporters.
The protocol, which has always been in place for things like the Mers-coronavirus that can be contracted in the Middle East or avian influenza in other parts of the world, is triggered when patients exhibit symptoms of a severe respiratory illness.
A travel history is taken as well as the appropriate isolation precautions.
The Ministry of Health is urging anyone in Saskatchewan who has travelled to China, or lives with anyone who has, to get informed about the symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus and the steps they should take if they suspect they that might have come in contract with it.
“Always mention before going to see your health-care provider that you have been travelling and now you have these symptoms, which in the case of coronavirus start with cough, fever, and difficulty breathing,” Shahab continued.
“Then your health-care provider will make sure that you’re seen in a way that doesn’t expose other patients, the proper testing is done.”
Treatment includes at home or in hospital isolation depending on the severity of the symptoms for up to two weeks, which is the time it is believed the Wuhan coronavirus is infectious.
For those who will be travelling to Wuhan or anywhere else in China in the future, Shahab recommends staying away from live animal markets (where the virus was first transmitted), washing your hands often, avoiding touching your face before washing your hands and staying away from people who are visibly ill.
If you become symptomatic while travelling, inform your flight crew as well as Canadian Border Services upon arrival to your next destination so an assessment can be done to determine if additional testing is needed. Travellers may be asked to delay their travels at their layover location until they are well again.
“January 25 is the Chinese New Year, so traditionally within China there’s a lot of travel,” said Shahab. “Obviously Chinese authorities are very concerned because of that because they feel that may spread this coronavirus within China from Wuhan to other provinces and already there’s evidence of that.”
But Shahab couldn’t say how many people from Saskatchewan are typically travelling back and forth from China, especially since there are no direct flights from Canada to Wuhan.