What you should know about the 2019 novelCoronavirus
DiseaseWhat you should know about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease

What is the 2019 Novel Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause illness
in humans. The current outbreak is caused by a new(or ‘novel’) strain of coronavirus, similar to the viruses thatcaused the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
outbreak from 2001 to 2003 and the Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS) outbreaks from 2012 to the present time.
The virus has been named “2019-nCoV”• 2019 refers to the year in which the first case occurred• ‘n’ refers to ‘novel’• ‘CoV’ refers to coronavirus

What is the source of the 2019 novel coronavirus?
The source of 2019 Novel Coronavirus is not yet known. Scientists thinkthe virus began in animals. At some point, one or more humans acquired
infection from an animal, and those infected humans began transmitting
infection to other humans.

What are the symptoms of the 2019 novel
coronavirus disease?
We are still learning about the characteristics of 2019-nCoV. After being
infected, a person may not have any symptoms at all. Other people may haveelevated body temperature (fever), cough, and/or difficulty of breathing. We do notknow enough about the 2019-nCoV to know what percentage of people have no symptoms, mild symptoms,
or severe symptoms.

Is the 2019 novel coronavirus fatal?
We are still learning about how dangerous this virus is. Like influenza and other respiratory viruses, the2019-nCoV can cause pneumonia, severe lung disease, multi-organ failure, and death. The risk of being
severe is probably greatest in older people and those with underlying chronic illnesses, but we do not know
enough to say this for sure.

How does the virus spread?
We are still learning about how the virus is transmitted.
In other coronavirus infections, the virus spreads primarily from person
to person via respiratory droplets: an infected person coughs or sneezes,releasing small virus particles in the air that land in an uninfected person’seyes, nose, or mouth. Infected persons can also transmit the virus throughtheir hands. When an infected person touches an uninfected person’shands, small virus particles are passed from the infected person’s hands
to the uninfected person’s hands. If the uninfected person touches theireyes, nose, or mouth, the virus particles are transmitted into their body.
After a person has been infected, it may take 2–14 days until they develop
any symptoms.

Has anyone in Africa been infected with 2019-nCoV?
As of 6 February 2020, there were no confirmed cases in Africa. It is possible that there are persons inAfrica who have been infected but not yet diagnosed. Monitor Africa CDC and WHO websites for up todate information.

What is Africa CDC doing about the 2019-nCoV disease?
Africa CDC has been monitoring the outbreak closely and discussing with Member States about their needs.
Currently, Africa CDC is:a. buying and distributing testing kits to laboratories in Africa;b. providing guidance to Member States about how to prevent infections from spreading in communities andin hospitals;c. strengthening screening at airports and with airlines;
d. providing up-to-date information via electronic messaging, social media, and conference calls toMember States.

Am I at risk for 2019-nCoV infection in Africa?
The 2019-nCoV virus is spreading rapidly around the world. The risk is greatest for those who haverecently traveled to one of the affected areas or to those who have close contact with someone with 2019nCoV infection.

Where can I get a trusted information about this disease?
You should monitor your Ministry of Health website, trusted news sources, and the Africa CDC and World
Health Organization websites regularly for updates about the virus in your area.

How can I protect myself from being infected with the virus?
There are several things you can do to protect yourself against infection with all respiratory viruses:
a. Wash your hands regularly with with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub.
b. Make sure you have received all recommended vaccines.
c. If the influenza vaccine is available in your community, you should try toobtain it. Influenza virus causes symptoms similar to 2019-nCoV. If you canprevent influenza infection, you can also reduce the likelihood of needing tovisit a health care facility for evaluation of respiratory infection.
If you develop fever, cough, and/or difficulty in breathing:a. Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm/elbow or tissue paper.
b. If you have mild symptoms, stay at home. Do not go to school,to work, or to other public places until you are completely
free of all symptoms. Guidance for how to care for yourself orothers at home is available from WHO at https://www.who.
int/internal-publications-detail/home-care-for-patients-withsuspected-novel-coronavirus-(nCoV)-infection-presenting-withmild-symptoms-and-management-of-contacts
c. If you have more severe symptoms (such as difficulty inbreathing), cover your mouth with a mask or scarf. Go to a
medical facility and immediately notify the first person you encounter (even a security guard) that you areworried that you have a respiratory infection.

What should I do if I had close contact with someone who is infected with2019-nCoV?
Monitor your symptoms closely. If you develop fever, cough, and/or difficulty in breathing, follow the advice
above. Also, make sure you tell your medical clinic that you have had contact with someone with 2019-nCoV.

Is it safe to travel to China or other countries where 2019-nCoV cases
have occurred?
As of 6 February 2020, the Chinese Government is restricting travel in Hubei Province and some other areas.
Please review information from the Chinese Government and your government regarding travel to China.

What you should know about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease

What if I recently traveled to Wuhan, China and got sick?
You should report to your local health authorities about your travel history and illness. The health authorities
will advise you about your care and treatment, and they will also follow and monitor your close contacts,
including family members, for possible illness. If your family, friends, or close colleagues develop a similarillness, they should tell their health care provider about their contact history with someone who had travelled
to Wuhan.

Is there a vaccine for 2019-nCoV?
There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infection. Scientists are working on developing a vaccine.

What are the treatments for 2019-nCoV disease?
There is no specific medication to treat 2019-nCoV. If you have a mild illness, you can take medication toreduce your fever and to suppress your cough. If you have more severe illness, your doctor may provide
other treatments to support your health, such as oxygen to help with breathing and antibiotics to treat abacterial infection.

Should I be tested for 2019-nCoV infection?
Most people with fever, cough, and/or difficulty in breathing do not have 2019-nCoV disease. There aremany infections, such as influenza, that cause similar symptoms. As of 6 February 2020, the only people whoshould be tested are people with symptoms and have a close contact with 2019-nCoV or a history of travelingto one of the affected areas. Recommendations for testing may change.

How do you test a person for 2019-nCoV infection?
The most common test involves collecting a sample from the back of a person’s nose or throat, thenperforming a special test called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the virus.

The experience of the SARS and MERS outbreaks teaches us that all health care facilities must:a. Screen people for fever, cough, and shortness of breath at the points of entry into a health facility.
b. If a person is found to have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, they should immediately be asked to wear
a simple face mask and placed in a separate area of the facility, ideally a private room, for evaluation.
c. Patients with mild illness and no other severe illnesses can be discharged home. They should be
instructed to stay home, cover their cough and sneeze with their arm/elbow or tissue paper, and wash
their hands regularly. They should only return for medical care if they develop more severe symptoms or if
their illness does not resolve.
d. Patients who require hospitalization should be placed in a private room. If no private room is available,
then:i. The patient should wear a simple face mask at all times, if they are able to tolerate wearing the mask.
ii. The patient should be kept at least one metre away from other patients.
iii. If the climate is temperate, the hospital should consider creating a small outdoor area for patients with2019-nCoV infection.

What about animals or animal products imported from China?
As of 6 February 2020, there is no known risk of 2019-nCoV infection from animals or animal products
imported from China.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
African Union Commission
Roosevelt Street W21 K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia+251 11 551 7700

africacdc@africa-union.org

www.africacdc.org

africacdc@AfricaCDC

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What should health care providers and health departments do?