Chinese coronavirus currently low risk for Latvians

Take note – story published 4 years ago

Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) Infectious Disease Risk Analysis Department Director Jurijs Perevoščikovs told Latvian Radio on January 22 that there is a low risk posed to Latvian residents from the respiratory coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan (population 11 million).

“We suggest following standard precautionary measures. Travelers going to a Chinese city are suggested not to be in contact with the sick, wash their hands and not touch their nose or eyes,” said Perevoščikovs.

"There are suspicions that the source of this virus is an unknown animal, so we're suggesting not to go to zoos, not to go to markets. In case a person falls ill, they should turn to the authorities in China, but if it happens after returning from China, they should contact a doctor and inform them about the trip," continued Perevoščikovs. The director also said that the SPCK is waiting for the opinion of the World Health Organization and European Commission on whether to raise the alarm in regards to this virus.

"The SPKC currently doesn't suggest limiting travel to China. If you're going to China - also think about anti-flu vaccinations," said Perevoščikovs.

Registered cases of the virus outside of China currently only include Thailand, Japan and South Korea, as well as one case in the US of the unknown SARS-related virus.

As previously reported, in 2015 the state Emergency Medical Assistance Service (NMPD), SPKC, and the Latvian Infectology Center (LIC) at Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) launched a surprise training on Riga’s medics this week to see how well prepared for a possible Ebola virus outbreak the nation’s health care establishment is. In order to keep the simulation as close to reality as possible, only the training coordinators from the above institutions were informed of the drill.

An NMPD dispatcher fielded the call to assist a 29-year-old man who had symptoms of high body temperature and new complications and properly passed it on as a possibly dangerous virus to be responded to by informing RAKUS, LIC and the SPKC. The nearest NMPD brigade was sent to the scene in individual protective gear to transport the patient to the LIC.
 

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