Argentina considers "low" the risk of arrival in the country of the Chinese coronavirus
The Argentine Government issued an epidemiological alert to the possible arrival of the Chinese coronavirus in the country, although for the moment it considers "low" the risk of spreading among the Argentine population.
This was explained on Thursday by the Minister of Health of the southern country, Ginés González, who in statements to Radio la Red affirmed that until now there is no "possibility" that the coronavirus arrives in Argentina, unless it is a "case imported".
NO SUSPECTIVE CASE IN ARGENTINA
"We have deployed our own alert, but we really do not have any suspicious cases, although we are in maximum control," said the minister, before qualifying as "moderate" the concern of the Executive regarding this disease.
Also, González recommended to those who travel to the area that they "go quickly to the doctor" if they have any important febrile symptoms, adding that "if they can not travel to that country (China), better".
In a statement, the Argentine Ministry of Health said that "although this is a relevant international event, according to current information, the immediate risk to the Argentine population is considered low."
According to the data disseminated so far, which amount to almost twenty the number of deaths and more than 500 people infected by this pathology, the lethality of this coronavirus is "less" than expected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) , genetically similar to this new coronavirus and that left more than 600 dead in China between 2002 and 2003.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL ABROAD
In any case, the Argentine Ministry of Health issued an epidemiological alert and published a series of "provisional" recommendations, especially aimed at international travelers, such as coughing in the deployment of the elbow or maintaining frequent hand hygiene.
For those travelers who plan to travel to the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of this coronavirus outbreak, the text recommends avoiding contact with individuals with acute respiratory diseases, in addition to not attending places with the presence of farm or wild animals or Eat raw food.
The document also indicates that, due to the presence of "acute respiratory symptoms", this new coronavirus should be included in the National Health Surveillance System (SNVS 2.0) within the group of acute respiratory infections (IRAS).
Therefore, Argentine health services must notify "immediately" through the National Health Surveillance System "all cases from suspicion and with complete data".
WUHAN, CLOSED WHILE WHO MAKES A DECISION
The Chinese authorities decided to close this Thursday "urban public transport, the subway, the ferry and long-distance passenger transport" in Wuhan, almost a month after detecting the beginning of the outbreak in the said town.
In addition, the airport and the train station will be "temporarily closed" to leave the city and, in fact, it is forbidden for any citizen "to leave Wuhan - capital of Hubei province, with 11 million inhabitants - without special reasons. " until new notice.
This drastic measure aims, according to the Chinese Government, "to effectively cut off the transmission of the virus, contain with determination the inertia of the spread of the epidemic and ensure the safety of people's lives and health."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues this Thursday with its meeting of experts to determine if it is necessary to declare an international alert for the virus.
