Facts about the flu and Wuhan coronavirus

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - At least one vacationing family is canceling their trip to Lake Tahoe due to fears about the spread of coronavirus 2019-nCoV, but health officials say this virus is not currently spreading in the community, here or in the United States. If they want to be concerned about anything being spread, they say, the flu is what they really need to be focusing on.

During this 2019-20 flu season, 10,000 people have died in the United States and there have been 19 million cases and 180,000 hospitalizations, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

In their weekly report on the flu, both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health are reporting an increase in cases of the flu. California is on the "high" flu activity list while Nevada is "low".

The overall hospitalization rate has increased to 29.7 per 100,000, which is normal for this time of year according to a weekly report released by the CDC. Deaths are down when compared to the last two years.

Dr. Richard Johnson, the medical officer for Alpine County, shared this about the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in a Public Health Brief:

As a member of the public, what is your risk?

a. Have you been in China in the last 14 days, or have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of 2019 nCoV infection?
b. Do you have fever, or cough and/or shortness of breath?

If you answer YES to BOTH a and b, call but do not just go into a healthcare facility.

If you answer NO to a, but YES to b, you probably have a case of the flu. Seek medical care if you are concerned or need advice.

If you answer NO to a, your risk of becoming infected with the 2019-nCoV infection is extremely low.

While the Wuhan coronavirus has killed more than 200 people in China and infected more than 9.700 people worldwide (including six in the US), health officials warn of misleading and potentially dangerous information being spread on social media.
They estimate hundreds of thousands of false Twitter tweets and Facebook posts are being spread.

The CDC urges people to seek facts given by the CDC or WHO, the World Health Organization and not to rely on social media.

Both the spread of flu and current coronavirus can be prevented with following these points given by the CDC:

- Remember to take everyday preventive actions that are always recommended to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend the use of facemasks for the general public to prevent the spread of 2019-nCoV. While limited person-to-person spread among close contacts has been detected, this virus is not currently spreading in the community in the United States.

For more on current 20a9-nCoV, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/what-you-should-do.html.

Some faqs from that website:

he 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, is a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China

A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is not that same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.

This virus probably originally emerged from an animal source but now seems to be spreading from person-to-person. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people.

Coronaviruses are common throughout the world. They can infect people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS, SARS, and now with 2019-nCoV.