BOSTON — The chief doctor of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is sending out a warning about the coronavirus which is spreading fast in China.
And, with the Chinese New Year, and millions of people travelling, doctors in Boston want you to be aware.
Chinese health officials are working to contain the new outbreak of coronovirus, a form of viral pneumonia.
Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes described symptoms of the virus.
“They might have fever, aches, and pains,” said Kuritzkes, chief of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a Harvard professor.
The outbreak started last month in Wuhan, China at a seafood wild life market.
Coronavirus typically infects animals, like camels, and bats, and small animals. Periodically, it causes human disease, like SARS, and a coronavirus epidemic.
It infected at least 200 people. Patients reported having a fever, shortness of breath, and coughing. Since the outbreak started, the outbreak has now spread to South Korea, Thailand and Japan.
“It seems the vast majority of cases have occurred with some contact with one of two seafood markets. The seafood market also sell lots of other kinds animals, like bats and are carriers of coronavirus,” Kuritzkes said.
The outbreak comes during the busiest time of the year, as millions are traveling across China and overseas for the Chinese New Year.
“They should stay away from animal markets, and live or dead animals. If there are people with respiratory illness, try to minimize contact with them as well,” Kuritzkes said.
Federal health officials have even started screening passengers across the country who are arriving from China.
Some passengers are asked how they’re feeling, and they get their temperatures taken.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization will hold an emergency meeting, trying to figure out how to stop this virus from spreading.
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