CDC issues travel notice for Wuhan, China due to pneumonia cluster

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice Monday for travelers to Wuhan, Hubei province, China due to the cluster of cases of pneumonia of an unknown etiology.

Authorities say as of January 5, 2020, local, provincial, and national health commissions in China have reported a total of 59 cases with no deaths. The cluster is centered at the Wuhan South China Seafood City (also called the South China Seafood Wholesale Market and the Hua Nan Seafood Market). In addition to seafood, the market sells chickens, bats, marmots, and other wild animals. The market has been closed since January 1, 2020, for cleaning and disinfection.

Health authorities in China are monitoring more than 150 close contacts for illness. To date, there have been no reports of spread from person to person or to health care workers.

Outbreak News Merchandise

Symptoms include fever and difficulty breathing. Though the cause of this cluster is unknown, there is concern that it is a virus. Local authorities have reported negative laboratory results for seasonal influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus, and two specific coronaviruses known to cause respiratory illness (severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS] and Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS]).

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV

CDC is advising travelers to Wuhan, China, should avoid living or dead animals, animal markets, contact with sick people and to wash hands often with soap and water.