Coupled with the re-designation of the nCoV-2019 illness as COVID-19, has been the naming of the virus which causes it, a sister virus of SARS-CoV. The Coronavirus Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses used ‘phylogeny, taxonomy and established practice’ to name it severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Read more.
The Feb 11 WHO Situation Report notes that 24 countries in all have reported COVID-19 cases, but there had been no new countries over the previous 24 hours. Not so for new cases with the global total climbing to 43,103 confirmed (+2,560 from yesterday) and 1,018 deaths (+108) – 42,708 of the confirmed cases and 1,017 deaths were in China. Also on Feb 11, the Director-General of the WHO announced the formation of a Crisis Management Team which will ‘coordinate the whole UN response’ to the outbreak and defined the expected outcomes of a meeting this week of more than 400 scientists from around the globe.
Additional resources and articles on COVID-19 this week:
Clinical characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus infection in China – an analysis of data to Jan 30 from 1,099 patients with confirmed COVID-19 in more than 550 hospitals throughout 31 provinces/provincial municipalities.
Coronavirus Expert Reality Check (The Global Health Network Feb 4) aims to ’help improve understanding of an emerging outbreak’s complex dynamics’.
The US CDC issued an Interim Guidance for Ships on Managing 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
An ASEAN Briefing article which offers ‘a running live update service to keep businesses involved in ASEAN and Asia updated with the latest relevant regional news’.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.