China - Original COVID-19 coronavirus news thread: weeks 1 - 4 (December 30, 2019 - January 25, 2020)

[sharon sanders]

I have started a discussion at the link below. It is open to the public. We do not accept new members in outbreak situations anymore because we are trolled so badly. If anyone would like to make a comment - please email us at flutrackers@earthlink.net

Please indicate what moniker you would like to use for your comment and if you are giving permission for your comment to be posted.

Thanks!


https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/...ehogs-and-dogs

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Saturday, January 4, 2020

[Wuhan Pneumonia] Government launches severe response level

An unexplained outbreak of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, the government made a risk assessment, announced today (4th) "new infectious disease preparedness and contingency plan important to public health", and launched a severe contingency level with immediate effect.

The Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health said that the current group of viral pneumonia cases in Wuhan can be regarded as a "new type of infectious disease that is important to public health", meaning that it is caused by unknown pathogens Any infectious disease, but because of its characteristics or has changed, whether or not it has the ability to effectively spread from person to person, humans will also be infected. Such diseases may spread internationally, causing public health emergencies. The immediate impact on the health of citizens is at a moderate level under severe contingency levels.

In response to the latest scientific research evidence and development, the government will assess the risk from time to time, activate or release the emergency level, and take corresponding preventive and control measures.

Severity level refers to the risk of new and serious infectious diseases emerging in Hong Kong, which will cause new and serious impacts on human health. It is a moderate condition. Generally speaking, the severity of emergencies indicates limited transmission in Hong Kong, such as sporadic or small-scale cases of human infection with new infectious diseases.

As far as zoonotic infectious diseases are concerned, when a new type of infectious disease occurs in animals in Hong Kong, the animals may have close contact with the general population, and there is a lot of evidence that animals are transmitted to humans. Other cases include confirmed cases of new types of infectious patient infections in areas with close trade and tourism relations in Hong Kong.

https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E/article/20200104/s00001/1578098823468/%E3%80%90%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E3%80%91%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E5%95%9F%E5%8B%95%E5%9A%B4%E9%87%8D%E6%87%89%E8%AE%8A%E7%B4%9A%E5%88%A5

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

He Bailiang: Analysis of Unknown Pneumonia-related New Virus

2020-01-04 HKT 08:45

The government immediately initiated a severe response level in response to unknown pneumonia in Wuhan. He Bailiang, director of the Center for Infection and Infectious Diseases of the University of Hong Kong, said that according to the information released by the Wuhan Municipal Health and Health Committee, there are good reasons to analyze that the incident involved a new type of virus. In the case of human-to-human transmission, the Hong Kong SAR Government considers that the virus can be handled from human to human transmission.

He Bailiang attended a radio program and said that there are many cases related to South China Seafood City this time. There is a good chance that people can pass the game through the game in the Seafood City. The current understanding of the incident seems to involve a new type of virus. He pointed out that the epidemiological information temporarily disclosed in the Mainland was rarely disclosed, and that basic data analysis was important for risk assessment. He had proposed to the government to organize a delegation to Wuhan to understand the clinical characteristics and conditions of local patients from medical staff.

He also pointed out that the Mainland has the best detection equipment, Wuhan City has a virus institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, biological security facilities at different levels, and national levels that can deal with dangerous viruses. There is reason to believe that new methods will be used for tracing. Suspected virus can be found within 48 hours, but to confirm the virus, two high-level independent laboratories should be used for testing. The authorities believe that the virus should be announced immediately if the two samples are confirmed to be exactly the same. If you have been to the Mainland, you have a history of relatively dangerous exposure. You should truthfully disclose it to medical personnel to avoid a rapid infection situation.

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1500956-20200104.htm

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He Bailiang points out that the development of Wuhan's unknown pneumonia has a red light

2020-01-04 HKT 09:08

He Bailiang, director of the HKU Infection and Infectious Diseases Center, pointed out that Wuhan unknown pneumonia is a major infectious disease event. The number of cases in Wuhan has increased from 27 to 44 in a short period of time. The development of unknown pneumonia has turned on a red light because of Viruses are cases that can be transmitted through contact, and there is no medical treatment. Hong Kong should recognize the seriousness of the incident, and must take strict precautions. It should be described as "do as much as you can," and use the most rigorous Method, otherwise the situation in Hong Kong will be quite serious.

When attending a radio program, he said that the detection measures at high-speed railways and airports should be as rigorous as possible. He also said that when he learned from SARS in 2003, a large amount of coronavirus was found in the feces of patients. Infectious diseases are a major issue, and all people must be vigilant. For example, in the shopping malls, the toilets must be well-hygienic. The public must also improve their personal hygiene measures. When there are crowded places and hospitals, they must wear masks. When you go to a wet market, you must also bring a mask and disinfectant with you to prevent the virus from spreading in Hong Kong.

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1500960-20200104.htm

[Pathfinder]

Center for Health Protection
Department of Health
Hong Kong
...
Response Level

• Government’s Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance New Serious

https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/gov...icance_eng.pdf

https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/index.html

[Treyfish]

After the outbreak of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, caused the suspected SARS epidemic, the Director of the Food and Health Bureau, Chen Zhaoshijin (4th), revealed on a radio program that two more Hong Kong people felt unwell after returning from Wuhan and needed to be hospitalized for laboratory tests. At present, the HA has received a total of 7 cases of suspected discomfort after returning to Hong Kong in Wuhan. https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/202...6f5a39f2c63fde

[Treyfish]

Proportion of serious cases of suspected new coronavirus similar to SARS in 2003
January 04, 2020 00:35

One in four cases of pneumonia in Wuhan requires intensive treatment. The proportion of severe cases is similar to that in the initial SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003. Xu Shuchang, Chair Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the Chinese University Medical School, quoted a professor from Peking University yesterday The Wuhan case is suspected of involving a new coronavirus, but it still needs time to understand the situation. If the family and medical care of the relevant patients have been infected and the case has risen rapidly, it can be determined that the virus will be transmitted from person to person, but no evidence shows that There are signs of transmission from Wuhan to pneumonia... https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/202...6f5a39f2c63fde

[sharon sanders]

Center for Health Protection
Department of Health
Hong Kong
...
Response Level

• Government’s Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance New Serious

https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/gov...icance_eng.pdf

https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/index.html

The Serious Level is the mid-tier between Alert and Emergency.

From the pdf above:

"Serious Response Level 12. Serious Response Level corresponds to a situation where the risk of health impact caused by the novel infection on local population in Hong Kong is moderate. Generally, it depicts a situation when there is limited spread of the disease in local population, e.g. sporadic or small 6 cluster(s) of infection. In case of zoonotic infection, when there is an outbreak of the novel infection in animals in Hong Kong that may have close contact with the general population and there is evidence of significant risk of animal to human transmission. It may also apply to situation when a significant number of human cases of the novel infection with serious health outcomes are reported in places/areas where the trade and travel relationship with Hong Kong is significant...."

[sharon sanders]

He Bailiang worried about the spread of unknown pneumonia during the Spring Festival, urged Hong Kong to treat it



January 4, 2020



I believe Dr. Leung is an associate professor at the medical school. link The information below is his opinion. I think he means without firm evidence to the contrary, you have to assume there is a possibility that this disease could be spread human-to-human.


He Bailiang (Ho Pak Leung) , director of the Center for Infectious and Infectious Diseases of the University of Hong Kong, believes that there are good reasons to analyze that the outbreak of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan involves a new type of virus. It is believed that there is a case of suspected human-to-human transmission in the local area. The virus also has a certain lethality. Can be handled from person to person.

He also believes that the opportunity for the virus to spread further during the Spring Festival is worrying. He also estimates that if the source is from game or wild animals, it will be transmitted to other mainland provinces and cities through the supply chain. He hopes that the mainland government will have the latest information as soon as possible. Fully announced.

https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E4%BD%95%...044431464.html


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2nd source:

Wuhan pneumonia experts are worried that people have passed on from person to person

"Game" may become the "gray rhino" of the epidemic; the difference between the "political culture" of Wuhan and Hong Kong will be seen from the control of the epidemic. (NTD)

Beijing Time: 2020-01-04 02:56
[NTD Beijing, January 04, 2020] In response to an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, the Hong Kong government launched a severe response level on the 4th. Some Hong Kong experts said that according to the information released by Wuhan, there are good reasons to believe that the incident involved a new type of virus, and that there are suspected cases involving human-to-human transmission. The Hong Kong Government can cope with human-to-human transmission.

On January 4th, Radio Hong Kong reported that He Bailiang, director of the Hong Kong University Infectious and Infectious Diseases Center, said during a radio program that many cases of "unknown viral pneumonia" outbreaks in Wuhan were related to South China Seafood City, most likely seafood. The game in the city has been transmitted to people through some channels. The current understanding of the incident seems to involve a new type of virus.

He Bailiang said that the epidemiological information temporarily disclosed by the mainland is rarely disclosed, and basic data analysis is important for risk assessment. He has proposed to the government to organize a delegation to Wuhan to understand the clinical characteristics and conditions of patients from medical staff.

more...

https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2020/01/04/a102744941.html

[tetano]

Wuhan pneumonia is SARS?

The patients were initially sent to the Affiliated Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Central China University of Science and Technology and transferred to Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital overnight. An anonymous hospital source told the media that the patients were in the infectious ward, separated from the outside by a solid iron door, and two security guards were stationed, and non-medical personnel were not allowed to visit.

The son of a patient said his father had been treated in the Houhu District of Tongji Hospital since his diagnosis. Originally, it was "very good in all aspects", but when he was about to leave the hospital, he was transferred to another hospital for treatment. The specific reason was not clear.

Wuhan South China Seafood Wholesale Market is suspected to be the source of the virus and has been closed for rectification. A business name here, Huang Yong, told the Beijing News that dozens of people were being treated together. At first I thought I had a cold, but taking the medicine didn't work.

For the concerns of their families, the staff of Jinyintan Hospital did not seem to take it seriously. It means "unknown cause of pneumonia", the general public may feel "very terrible" and "very panicked", but the hospital receives medical cases of unknown cause every year.

However, Xu Shuchang, Chair Professor of Respiratory Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said on a radio program in Hong Kong that the proportion of outbreaks now is similar to that of the initial severe cases of SARS.


He quoted a Peking University professor as saying that cases of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan may involve a new coronavirus. But there is no latest news. If it is a new virus, rapid detection will not effectively detect the results.

https://hk.epochtimes.com/news/2020-01-04/83105206

[Treyfish]

Singapore
Chinese girl with pneumonia warded, isolated after travel to Wuhan: MOH
04 Jan 2020 09:00PM(Updated: 04 Jan 2020 10:02PM)

As of 2pm on Saturday (Jan 4), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it has been notified of a three-year-old female Chinese national with pneumonia and travel history to Wuhan, where a seafood wholesale market has been associated with a cluster of pneumonia cases. "The case has not visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan associated with the cluster of pneumonia of unknown cause," MOH said. "The case has been warded for further assessment and treatment, and isolated as a precautionary measure," the ministry added.

The girl is in a stable condition and preliminary tests showed that she is positive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a common cause for childhood pneumonia. "Investigations are ongoing to confirm this as the cause," MOH said...https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...apore-12233644


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MoH report:
4TH JAN 2020

As of 2pm, 4 January 2020, the Ministry of Health has been notified of one suspect case involving a 3 year-old female Chinese national with pneumonia and travel history to Wuhan. The case has not visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan associated with the cluster of pneumonia of unknown cause.

The case has been warded for further assessment and treatment, and isolated as a precautionary measure. The case is currently in stable condition. Preliminary tests showed that the case is positive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a common cause for childhood pneumonia. Investigations are ongoing to confirm this as the cause.

https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/update-on-local-situation-regarding-severe-pneumonia-cluster-in-wuhan

[sharon sanders]

The South China Seafood Market is only 2 blocks from one of the largest rail stations in China - The Hankou Railway Station.




This rail station connects to the high speed train system and during the 2019 Spring festival - alone - the station saw 5.5 million passengers. link



　　"Hankou Station is a special station in Jianghan District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Railways include Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, Handan Railway and many other lines.

Design style: restored to the old European classical architectural style, consistent with the old Hankou railway station on the station road.

Direction of the main station building: Sit north to south.

Main function: Realize elevated waiting, divided into ordinary speed field, high speed field, mainly stopping trains from Shanghai to Hanrong, and also taking into account the Beijing-Guangzhou and Handan lines.

Ancillary works: Hankou Railway Station of Metro Line 2, North Square, North Station, and the underpass tunnel of Wuhan Second Ring Road Development Avenue. Status: Construction is about to start.

The train from Hankou to Dalian crosses the five economic areas of Central South, Central Plains, North China, West Liaoning Corridor, and Liaodong Peninsula. Business and travel are rushing and become the busiest golden line. Shanghai, Shenzhen, Lanzhou ... From south to north, Hankou Station has repeatedly expanded the "Shinkansen" for Wuhan development." link


"At present, it is mainly responsible for passenger trains departing from east to west and passing trains in Wuhan hub. Most of the Shanghai-Hanrong Express trains stop at this station, and they also undertake part of the Beijing-Guangzhou railway and Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway train departure and arrival and crossing business." link

[sharon sanders]

3 Wuhan-related cases reported

January 4, 2020


Public hospitals, as of noon today and over the past 24 hours, admitted three people who had been to Wuhan in the past 14 days, the Hospital Authority announced.



The patients presented symptoms of fever, respiratory infection or pneumonia.



The authority explained that the patients, one male and two females aged between four and 50, are in stable condition and are being treated in isolation at Prince of Wales, Tseung Kwan O and Tuen Mun hospitals.



The authority has sent specimens to the Department of Health for testing and will keep monitoring their conditions.



Public hospitals have reported eight such cases to the department since December 31. Five of these patients have been discharged.

https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/01/20200104/20200104_182235_901.html?type=category&name=health

[Pathfinder]

World Health Organization Western PacificVerified account @WHOWPRO 12h12 hours ago#China has extensive capacity to respond to public health events and is responding proactively & rapidly to the current incident in Wuhan – isolating patients, tracing close contacts, cleaning up the market, and searching for the cause and for additional cases. 3/3
...
World Health Organization Western PacificVerified account @WHOWPRO 12h12 hours ago
We’re closely monitoring the situation in Wuhan & are in active communication with our counterparts in China. We’ve activated our incident management system across the 3 levels of @WHO (country office, regional office, HQ) & can launch a broader response, if needed. 2/3
...
World Health Organization Western PacificVerified account @WHOWPRO 12h12 hours ago#China has reported to WHO regarding a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province.The Govt has also met with our country office,and updated @WHO on the situation. Govt actions to control the incident have been instituted and investigations into the cause are ongoing. 1/3

[sharon sanders]

Macau encourages people not to believe rumors.


The Health Bureau once again clarified that a passenger from Wuhan who had a fever has left Australia and an effective communication mechanism has been established with Boqi

source: Department of Health (SS) Release date: 00:28, January 5, 2020 According to social media rumors, a passenger from Wuhan ’s Sands City Centre recently had fever and refused to go to the hospital.

He subsequently did not actually leave Macau but switched to a hotel. The Health Bureau said that according to the report from the Sands City Centre ’s medical office, The passenger from Wuhan went to the infirmary for treatment on the evening of January 1 due to fever. He did not have symptoms of pneumonia at that time. The central doctor had fever when he followed up with the patient on the 2nd, and the person had already died on January 3.

Leaving Macau; the Health Bureau confirmed that the person concerned had left Macau in the morning of January 3. To this end, the Health Bureau urges people not to forward or believe unconfirmed news. News from the Health Bureau will be distributed through channels such as the Government Information Bureau, the Health Bureau website or official WeChat.

In addition, the Health Bureau also held a working meeting with representatives of local casinos and casinos in Macau with the assistance and coordination of the Gaming Supervision and Coordination Bureau on the 2nd to introduce infectious disease prevention and control measures, including monitoring the epidemic information of the SAR government and cooperating with various Preventive measures; timely release and update information on disease prevention to employees; pay attention to the physical conditions of employees and guests, and set up fever monitoring equipment at each entrance to detect feverish people; if fever and respiratory symptoms are found, They should be advised to put on a mask and seek medical treatment early, and avoid close contact with other people in the venue; if fever occurs, ask them if they have stayed in Wuhan 14 days before the onset of illness, if so, contact the fire station to arrange an ambulance Earl General Hospital for further examination. If a large number of employees or guests are sick or absenteeism due to illness suddenly increases, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Health Bureau should be notified.

At present, in the case of clusters of unexplained pneumonia in Wuhan, the Mainland, the Health Bureau and gaming casinos have established an effective communication mechanism to deal with possible situations, and are assisting various entertainment venues to purchase temperature monitoring equipment; and casinos are also He said that he would fully cooperate with and implement various policies and measures for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

https://www.gov.mo/zh-hant/news/312831/

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Macau has upped their response to the Wuhan situation.

The Health Bureau has not received any cases of fever and respiratory symptoms since returning to Australia from Wuhan

source: Department of Health (SS) Release date: January 4, 2020 23:52 Figure 1: Director Li Zhanrun, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lin Song, Director of the Executive Committee Office of Macao International Airport Co., Ltd. Luo Songyi and Director of the Airport Operations Department Operations Division Geng Yajun inspected the temporary detention area for suspected infectious disease contacts
In response to the cluster of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan, the Mainland, the Health Bureau has deployed additional staff to strengthen health and quarantine measures at various ports, especially airports, and starting from this morning, the staff of the Public Security Police Department will assist the checkpoints and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Drivers and passengers of entry lanes, land crossings such as cross-industrial areas and lotus land were screened for temperature. No fever patients have been found in Wuhan. From 5 pm yesterday (3) to 5 pm (4), no case reports of fever and respiratory symptoms that have visited Wuhan on the 14th before the onset of illness have been received. From January 1 to the present, the Health Bureau has received a total of 4 cases of fever and respiratory symptoms that have visited Wuhan 14 days before the onset of illness, and all have been diagnosed with viral infections such as influenza or common cold.

In view of the above, the Health Bureau expressed great concern. To this end, Director Li Zhanrun of the Health Bureau, Director Lin Song of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Director Luo Songyi of the Executive Committee Office of Macau International Airport Franchise Co., Ltd., and Geng Yajun, Director of the Operation Division of the Airport Operations Department. The airport was strengthened to communicate the health and quarantine measures for visitors to Australia, and they jointly inspected the airport's temporary holding area for suspected infectious disease contacts. At the same time, Director Li Zhanrun also explained the importance of infectious disease prevention and control measures with frontline staff at the airport.

The Health Bureau reminded frontline medical staff to remain vigilant. If suspicious cases are found, they should be notified in a timely manner and appropriate infection control measures should be taken, including: if a fever or respiratory symptoms patient who stayed in Wuhan within 14 days before the onset of illness is found, Further detailed inspections will be conducted; residents are not required to panic, but they should pay attention to personal hygiene and environmental hygiene, and avoid contact with birds and other animals when traveling to Wuhan or other places; consider wearing masks before crowded places; Avoid going to local hospitals or contacting people who are sick. If you have any discomfort after returning to Australia, you should seek medical treatment as early as possible and explain the travel history to your doctor. If you have any questions, please call the Department of Health's Infectious Diseases Hotline at 28700800 or visit the Department of Health's website for infectious disease information at www.ssm.gov.mo/csr.

https://www.gov.mo/zh-hant/news/312827/

[penguinsix]

Eight more fall ill in Hong Kong after visiting Wuhan, bringing the total to 16 cases in Hong Kong.

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1501138-20200105.htm

note: 10 have tested positive for known flu strains or the common cold according to the report.