January 27, 2020 - SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on Sunday has been informed that one individual in Los Angeles County and one individual in 
Orange County have tested positive for novel coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019). This information is confirmed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH), the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), and the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"The California Department of Public Health has been preparing for this situation by working closely with local health departments and health care providers," said Dr. Sonia Angell, CDPH Director and State Health Officer. "We are supporting ongoing efforts by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency to respond to these cases, and will continue working with our partners to monitor for any additional cases that may occur in California, to ensure that persons can be safely and effectively evaluated for this novel virus, and to protect the health of the people of California."
At this time, no other persons infected with nCoV-2019 have been identified in California. Currently, the immediate health risk from nCoV 2019 to the general public is low.
It is very important for persons who have recently traveled and who become ill to notify their health care provider of their travel history. Persons who have recently traveled to Wuhan, China, or who have had contact with a person with possible novel coronavirus infection should contact their local health department or health care provider.
CDPH has been prepared and is continuing with the following actions:
- Providing information about the outbreak and how to report suspect cases to local health departments and health care providers in California.
- Coordinating with CDC personnel who are doing screening of travelers from Wuhan, China at SFO and LAX airports.
- Assuring that health care providers know how to safely manage persons with possible nCoV-2019 infection.
- Supporting hospitals and local public health laboratories for collection and shipment of specimens for testing at CDC for nCoV-2019.
- Activating CDPH's Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts across the state.
The nCoV-2019 outbreak in China continues to evolve and California is prepared for more cases that may arise. CDPH considers this a very important public health event: we are closely monitoring the situation and providing updates to partners across the state to support their preparedness efforts.
As with any virus, especially during the flu season, CDPH reminds you there are a number of steps you can take to protect your health and those around you:
- Washing hands with soap and water.
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick are all ways to reduce the risk of infection with a number of different viruses.
- If someone does become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough, they should stay away from work, school or other people to avoid spreading illness.
CDPH will not be providing additional information about the patients beyond what is being shared by the LADPH and OCHCA
For more information about nCov-2019, please visit the CDPH website.
Source: CDPH
On Sunday CDC confirms additional cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in United States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed additional travel-related infections of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States, this time in Arizona and California. These patients recently returned to the U.S. from Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus has been ongoing since December 2019. This brings the total number of 2019-nCoV infections detected in the United States to five.
Based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms, healthcare professionals suspected 2019-nCoV. Clinical specimens were collected and sent to CDC, where laboratory testing confirmed infection with 2019-nCoV. Investigations are underway to determine where these patients went after returning to the United States and any close contacts who were possibly exposed. CDC teams have been deployed to support these efforts.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we are still in the early days of the investigation – both domestically and abroad. CDC continues to monitor the international situation with our teams on the ground in affected countries, as well as domestically in the four states with confirmed cases – Arizona, California, Illinois, and Washington. CDC is leaning forward with an aggressive public health response strategy and working closely with state and local public health authorities to identify potential cases early and make sure patients get the best and most appropriate care.
It is likely there will be more cases reported in the U.S. in the coming days and weeks, likely including person-to-person spread. In previous outbreaks with MERS and SARS, the two other coronaviruses that have jumped the species barrier to cause severe illness in people, person-to-person spread has been seen, including among healthcare workers caring for patients ill with coronavirus infection. This underscores the importance of appropriate precautions in the health care setting as well in homes of people who are infected with 2019-nCoV but who may not be hospitalized. CDC has developed guidance for both situations.
This is a very serious public health situation. We understand that some people are worried about this virus and how it may impact Americans. Outbreaks of new diseases are always of concern – and in today’s connected world, an outbreak anywhere can be a risk everywhere. Risk is dependent on exposure. Someone who is in close contact with a person who is infected with 2019-nCoV will be at greater risk of infection and should take the precautions outlined in CDC’s guidance for preventing spread in homes and communities. While this is a serious public health threat, CDC continues to believe the immediate risk to the U.S. general public is low at this time.
Right now, CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Hubei Province, China. In addition, CDC recommends people traveling to other parts of China practice certain health precautions like avoiding contact with people who are sick and practicing good hand hygiene. For the general public, no additional precautions are recommended at this time beyond the simple daily precautions that everyone should always take. It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and flu activity is still high and expected to continue for a number of weeks. CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
As we learn more about this novel coronavirus, we will continue to update our guidance. Please visit the CDC website, which is updated daily, for the latest information related to our response.
Source: CDC
