Key
Points
An outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was
detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in late December 2019.
- Investigate
and manage patients for respiratory illness using standard practices.
- For
severe respiratory illness, transfer patients to public hospital emergency
departments.
- Contact
your state/territory public health unit or communicable disease branch for
advice on suspected cases including diagnostic testing and specimen collection.
Current
Situation
- Most
people infected with 2019-nCoV live in, or have recently travelled to mainland
China. There have also been some cases reported in other countries.
- There
is evidence of human-to-human transmission, including among healthcare workers.
- People
are considered to be most infectious while symptomatic, however there is some
evidence that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people are also able to transmit
the virus.
- People
who have recently returned from mainland China or who have had close contact
with a confirmed case are being advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
- People
in these circumstances have been advised to call ahead to medical clinics if
they require medical attention.
Identify
Symptoms and Exposure History
If the patient satisfies the epidemiological
AND clinical criteria (listed below), they are classified as a suspected case:
SUSPECTED
CASE DEFINITION (1):
A case who, in the 14 days before the onset of
illness:
Travelled to regions known to have cases of
2019-nCoV
OR
Had contact with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV
AND
Has at least one of the following:
- Fever or history of fever
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Cough
SUSPECTED
CASE DEFINITION (2):
An atypical case presentation of:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
OR
Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI)
Clinicians should
be alert to the possibility of atypical presentations in patients who are
immunocompromised.
PROBABLE CASE DEFINITION:
A suspected case
for whom test 2019-nCoV is inconclusive or for whom testing was
positive on a
pan-coronavirus assay.
CONFIRMED CASE DEFINITION:
A person who has
tested positive for 2019-nCoV infection, irrespective of clinical signs
and
symptoms.
The above criteria
are provisional only. They will be revised by public health authorities
over
time as more precise information emerges on the outbreak including
characteristics
of transmission, incubation and infectivity period and
geographical spread. Updated information will be communicated when available.
Action for Patients who meet criteria.