Recommendations and Interim Guidance for Fresno County Schools on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your role in prevention of 2019-nCoV.
Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people get infected with these viruses at some point in their lives. These illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time. Symptoms may include:
Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. This is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults. The new virus identified in this episode has been confirmed to be a coronavirus, but we are still learning more about how it is spread and treated, and how many infected people go on to have severe symptoms.
Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person-to-person. Some degree of person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Although the transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Fresno County Department of Public Health currently recommend a cautious approach to suspect students for 2019-nCoV.
If suspected students with recent travel to Wuhan (affected areas might change in future) show up to school or visit the nurse’s office, these students should be asked to wear a surgical mask as soon as they are identified, and be evaluated in a private room with the door closed, ideally an airborne infection isolation room (if one is available). Healthcare personnel entering the room should use standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and use eye protection (e.g., goggles or a face shield).
The FCDPH is requesting that all suspect cases be reported immediately to the Communicable Disease Investigation (CDI) Program. The FCDPH CDI program will provide additional guidance and determine if specimen collection is recommended.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this recommendation, please call the FCDPH CDI Program at (559) 600-3332.
Promotion, preservation and prot ection of the community’s health
1221 Fulton Street, Fresno, CA 93721 | P.O. Box 11867, Fresno, CA 93775
(559) 600-3200 | FAX (559) 600-7687
The County of Fresno is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
www.co.fresno.ca.us | www.fcdph.org
Most Sincerely,
Rais Vohra, MD Interim Health Officer, Fresno County Department of Public Health
