Brookline Health Officials Issue Health Advisory On Coronavirus

BROOKLINE, MA – Brookline is at low risk for a deadly new virus that has spread from China to the U.S., but health officials said they are closely monitoring the situation.

“We understand that many people are worried about the coronavirus and how it may impact Brookline,” said Health Commissioner for Brookline Public Health Dr. Swannie Jett in a statement.

Brookline officials said the CDC is monitoring the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new virus called coronavirus, which was first detected in Wuhan City, in the Hubei Province of China and which appears to be expanding rapidly.

As of Monday, Chinese health officials have reported 2,835 cases of coronavirus confirmed in China, including 81 deaths. And it's popping up in other countries, including the United States, where officials have been screening incoming travelers from Wuhan.

The United States announced their first infection detected in a traveler returning from Wuhan on January 21. Since then more than 100 people have been tested for the virus in the US, of those, five have been confirmed (in Washington, California, Arizona and Illinois), and 32 have tested negative. The test results of another 73 are still pending, according to the CDC as of Monday.

The World Health Organization decided last week it was too soon to declare a public health emergency.

For the time being, Brookline health officials are warning anyone who has traveled to Wuhan City, China recently and are sick with fever, cough and difficulty breathing to call your primary care physician immediately.

"I would avoid any unnecessary travel to the area until the outbreak is over," said Jett.

Symptoms are pneumonia-like, according to health officials.

Preliminary information suggests that older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe complications from this virus. At the moment health professionals are working on creating a vaccine to prevent infection as well as a cure, but estimate that is months away.

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid exposure to the virus.

Brookline's Health Department recommends these standard precautions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 
• Use alcohol-based hand rubs and gels. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick 
• Stay home when you are sick. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze. 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 
• Wear a mask if you leave the house and you have a cough

What can travelers do to protect themselves and others? 

• Avoid contact with sick people 
• Avoid animals, animal markets, and products that come from animals 
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. 

Read more:

Coronavirus In MA: Health Officials Vigilant, But Risk Is Low