-as Gov’t rolls out counter-measures to guard against the Coronavirus

GUYANA has joined the rest of the world in safeguarding its citizens against the coronavirus, which has plagued parts of China and spread to other countries in the past few weeks.

According to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughs, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
In ensuring that the virus remains out of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Health has placed port health officials on alert and has trained them to spot signs and symptoms of the malady.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Public Health, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, said the Guyanese government is preparing counter-measures to prevent any outbreak of the coronavirus here. The coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan, China.
So far, a questionnaire, which is being used as screening tool, has been developed to gather detailed information on the onset and natural course of illnesses of persons, suspected of having coronavirus.

Dr. Gordon-Boyle said training programmes, targeting key staff, including port health officers, immigration officers and customs officers, will be conducted by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

She said the Infection Control and Prevention Committee of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will also ensure that the tertiary institution is in a state of readiness to care for any infected person.
As a precaution, she said “Any person experiencing fever or flu-like symptoms should visit the GPHC or the nearest Regional Hospital.”
While the incubation period for affected persons is still not known, it is advised that patients be isolated from the healthy population for some 10 to 14 days.
In the event that a person shows up with the corona virus, PAHO and CARPHA are being asked to support with the testing of samples, Dr Gordon-Boyle said.
Globally, there have been 440 confirmed cases of patients with pneumonia, blamed on the new strain of coronavirus. The authorities said many of the patients are residents of Wuhan or visitors who recently went to the city.

Thailand and Japan have also confirmed at least one case each among tourists who visited Wuhan. Early last week, the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) announced the first case in the USA.
The outbreak of the virus has been linked to Wuhan South China Seafood City, also called the South China Seafood Wholesales Market and the Hua Nan Seafood Market. Chickens, bats, cats, marmots, and other wild animals are also available for sale in that market, suggesting a possible zoonotic origin to the outbreak.
So far, the WHO has been counselling hospitals around the world on infection, prevention and control. However, the global body has advised against travel or trade restrictions at this time, based on available information.
Other international public health institutions such as the US CDC, China CDC, and European CDC are working on the design and eventual distribution of diagnostic kits to other countries.

“In any case, it is expected that a consensus test will potentially be available at least some weeks from now,” said the ministry.
CARPHA, in a prepared statement, had said: “We do not recommend at this time to conduct entrance screening (temperature screening) at ports of entry. Passengers would already have been screened when exiting the Wuhan area and upon arrival in the US.”
“Member States are recommended to capture information on travel history using the Passenger Arrival Card or surveys, for all new arrivals. Arrivals that have recently travelled to China, especially to the Wuhan area, should be questioned for symptoms and advised to be vigilant for onset of those symptoms and to seek immediate medical attention at a public health facility. Passengers should be advised to seek medical care as soon as symptoms arise,” CARPHA counselled.

Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr. Joy St John had said, there have been no confirmed cases or reports of the 2019-nCoV in the Caribbean region and based on current information, the immediate health risk from this virus to the general public remains low.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera had reported that China has stepped up its response to a new coronavirus outbreak that has killed 41 people and infected at least 1,372 in the mainland, ordering nationwide measures to detect the virus at transport terminals.
According to Al Jazeera, Beijing has also expanded travel restrictions, affecting the movement of 56 million people in more than a dozen cities, amid fears that the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year.