The below information was provided by the DuPage County Health Department. Access additional information about coronavirus at the below links, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health:
There has been a great deal of information in the media recently about what is being referred to as the “2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).” Although there are still many questions, we want to provide you with information that we know at this time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel, or new, coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. Currently, there are hundreds of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan, with additional cases being identified in the United States (including in Illinois) and in a growing number of countries internationally.
Patients with confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness symptoms of: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. At this time, CDC believes that symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to someone who has been diagnosed with the disease.
It is thought that person-to-person spread has occurred via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. At this time, CDC is studying more about the virus in order to better understand the associated risks. Also, the CDC continues to work with the World Health Organization to more fully assess the disease in order to reduce the spread of the disease.
Currently, the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is in regular communication with and following guidance provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the evolving 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation. DCHD’s Communicable Disease and Epidemiology (CDE) staff routinely monitor and investigate disease transmission and response, which is the case with this new virus. Students, family members, or staff who have traveled from Wuhan, China or have contact with someone confirmed to have the novel coronavirus infection and begin experiencing fever and/or cold-like symptoms or difficulty breathing, should contact their healthcare provider to let them know of their travel or exposure history for appropriate evaluation and care.
Frequent handwashing and respiratory hygiene (e.g. covering your cough, coughing into tissues, disposing of tissues promptly) are important practices that help to limit the spread of this and other similar infections.
Additionally, for anyone feeling emotional distress or in need of emotional support, the DCHD Crisis Hotline (630) 627-1700 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you or your healthcare provider have any further questions, please contact the DuPage County Health Department at (630) 221-7553 (8am – 4:30pm) or at (630) 682-7400 after hours. For current information from CDC and IDPH about coronavirus, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/index.html and http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available through this webpage.