NHS issues Guidance on China Coronavirus to GPs

Every country is taking measures to combat the spread of China Coronavirus infection with every day rising trend of case infected with Coronavirus. China has reported 25 more deaths from coronavirus that would make the toll reach at least 106. As per the latest reports, the number of reported cases has risen above 2,700.

In India, several people who returned from China are kept under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure to coronavirus. The deadly China Coronavirus has affected people in Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, United States, France and Germany.

National Health Service, UK has issued guidance on dealing with suspected cases of Wuhan novel coronavirus infection (WN-CoV). The Cabinet Office briefing room emergency committee made assessments in a number of potential UK cases but all were negative.

Public Health England gave the current criteria for possible Wuhan novel coronavirus infection as:

• Travel to Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in the 14 days before the onset of illness or contact with a confirmed case of WN-CoV

• Severe acute respiratory infection requiring hospital admission with clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome OR acute respiratory infection of any degree of severity (including at least one of the following: shortness of breath, cough or sore throat)However, it said atypical presentation is possible in immunocompromised patients.

It said the principles for primary care included:

• Identifying potential cases as soon as possible, including through recent history of travel to China when booking patients in or by phone

• Preventing transmission of infection to staff and patients

• Telling potential cases to avoid using public transport or taxis to get to a hospital

• Avoiding direct physical contact during examination or exposures to respiratory secretions

• Isolate suspected cases in a room away from other patients and inform local Health Protection Teams (HPT)

• If a potential case is identified during a consultation, leave the room, wash hands, and prevent others from entering the room.

• Continue the consultation by phone. Do not allow the patient to use shared toilets

• If transfer to hospital is required, tell the ambulance control of potential WN-CoV infection.

• Do not allow further use of the isolation room until HPT advice is received