Vancouver Coastal Health is monitoring reports of the novel coronavirus (named 2019-nCoV), first identified in Wuhan, China. While there have been cases identified outside of China, all of these individuals are known to have recently travelled to the Wuhan area.
Public Health officials are working together to ensure that any unusual illness in arriving travelers is being appropriately screened. Physicians have also been requested to notify Public Health of any illness of concern in patients who were recently in the Wuhan area.
The risk to the general public, including school-age children, is very low. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further advice and information as it becomes available.
Illnesses associated with the new coronavirus are similar to several respiratory illnesses and include fever, dry cough, sore throat and headache. Most of the reported cases are only showing mild symptoms and are well enough to stay home. Elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to develop severe disease and require hospitalization.
In the meantime, we remind everyone to follow proper hygiene etiquette during the cold & flu season. This includes proper handwashing with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and staying home when you are sick.
More information is available on the VCH website. Please feel free to reach out to your school public health nurse or myself if you have further questions.
– Geoff McKee, MD, MPH, FRCPC, Medical Health Officer, Coastal Rural, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
School District 46 will provide any further information and updates with our community as directed by VCH.