CONCORD � Two New Hampshire residents, recently returned from the Wuhan region of China, have been isolated and are being tested for exposure to the Wuhan novel coronavirus.

State health officials announced Monday they are monitoring the two people, who have developed respiratory symptoms.

Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said Monday evening results were not in yet. He said they are both recovering and if they contracted the novel coronavirus, the cases appear to be mild. Testing is being done through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with results in 24-48 hours, but there are plans to have states be equipped to do their own testing.

�There are now over 2,800 confirmed cases and 81 deaths, most of them in China,� said Chan. �There are a number of other countries involved, including the U.S., with five confirmed cases. We are trying to identify cases as soon as we can in order to keep those involved out of public spaces.�

As reports of the 2019 novel coronavirus continue, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health Services said it is monitoring for potential cases and taking precautions to limit the impact if the virus is found in the state. The CDC and state and local health departments are closely monitoring the outbreak. The CDC has confirmed five infections of novel coronavirus in the U.S. from four states, and is testing more than 100 additional individuals across the U.S.

Dr. David Itkin, infectious disease specialist at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, said testing for the virus is a three-phase process, involving a throat culture, a deep nasal culture and blood work.

�There are published guidelines for proceeding if a person is suspect,� said Itkin. �A person should stay home except for seeking medical care. They should not go to work or use public transportation. At the doctor�s office they will wear a mask and will be immediately escorted into a treatment room and not spend time in the waiting room. At home they should be isolated from other family members. Tissues should be placed in a lined trash can, separate from other family members. The potential infected person should avoid sharing common household items.�

Healthcare providers have been asked to alert DPHS if they identify patients with travel to Wuhan City/Hubei Province, China, who become ill with fever or respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel so as to assist with testing and ensure isolation of the ill patients to prevent potential spread of a novel coronavirus.

The two people being monitored in New Hampshire have more mild illness, according to health officials, but both sought healthcare for their illnesses and are recovering. They remain isolated until test results are available. If testing confirms a case of novel coronavirus in New Hampshire, health officials stated DPHS will share that information and protective recommendations with both the affected parties and the public as quickly as possible.

�My level of concern will go way up if we see secondary cases,� said Itkin. �We saw that with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). To my knowledge, we have only seen a person-to-person case in Vietnam, with a second member of a household. We all want more information. I want to know about the fatal cases. Did they have comorbidities, underlying health problems, or were they previously healthy? I am looking for that type of information.�

Chan said person-to-person transmission is possible, but it has not been seen in the U.S. to date.

�The risk to our communities in New Hampshire is low, but we want to identify people who may be infected with this new coronavirus in order to prevent spread,� Chan said. �We have recommended that health care providers conduct travel screenings and implement isolation practices for patients with a fever or respiratory illness who report travel to this affected region of China. This is a rapidly changing situation, and we remain committed to providing timely updates to residents of New Hampshire and our health care providers.�

Reported symptoms of illness have included primarily fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. There are currently no vaccines available to protect against the novel coronavirus, according to health officials. The CDC recommends taking precautionary measures similar to those for flu prevention, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, avoiding sick people, staying home if you are sick, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs. These steps can help prevent infection from many different viruses circulating this time of year.

The CDC has issued a level 3 travel warning, advising travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to Hubei Province, China. CDC has also issued a level 2 travel alert advising that travelers to the rest of China practice enhanced precautions. Given expansion of this outbreak within China, and local control measures being put in place by Chinese officials, travelers may consider postponing travel to other parts of China outside Hubei province until there is a better understanding of the extent of the outbreak and risk.

Those planning a trip to China should keep an eye on the news and be aware of any travel restrictions, officials stated. Residents who have recently returned from a trip to China and are feeling sick should call their health care provider and let them know of their travel and symptoms.

�I think the risk to New Hampshire and the nation remains low,� said Chan. �We are in the process of developing a website to keep people better informed here.�

Any suspect cases in New Hampshire should be reported immediately to the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control by calling 603-271-4496 (after hours 603-271-5300).

For more information, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.