HEALTH officials have dismissed fears of a new type of coronavirus spreading in Bahrain, which reportedly originated from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
The Health Ministry, however, confirmed yesterday that it was conducting “precautionary routine procedures” to prevent the spread of any contagious diseases in the country.
Notice
It follows a notice issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), warning hospitals worldwide on a possible “wider spread” of the mysterious virus linked to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
The ministry’s public health department also said there was no travel ban or special travel procedures in place related to the virus.
A total of 41 cases of pneumonia and one death, a 61-year-old man, have been reported in the central Chinese city since last week, which preliminary lab tests showed could be from a new type of coronavirus.
There have been no new cases or deaths since, but a Chinese woman was quarantined in Thailand – the first time the virus has been detected outside China, subsequent to which Japan confirmed yesterday to have detected another case of infection.
“The Health Ministry has followed with great interest the news and messages circulating on social media regarding the pneumonia spread in China,” said the ministry in a statement.
“The ministry reassures citizens and residents that the ministry’s public health department is in constant contact with WHO regarding the spread of any contagious disease, and is fully aware of the subject and continuously follows up on such matters.
“Based on what was reported regarding the new virus currently circulating in China, it is linked to a specific market in Wuhan, and no cases of transmission of infection from one person to another have been recorded, according to information received from WHO.
“There are no special recommendations from WHO regarding this disease other than routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
“Also, there is no travel ban and no special travel procedures currently.
“We are in continuous and intensive communication with WHO on the latest developments and recommendations in this regard, and the public health department is currently carrying out precautionary routine procedures to prevent the spread of any contagious disease in Bahrain.”
The virus reportedly affected people who had been to a major meat and seafood market in Wuhan, which has been shut down for disinfection since January 1.
However, WHO is preparing for the possibility of a wider outbreak, its emerging diseases and zoonosis unit head Dr Maria D van Kerkhove said.
She explained that the coronavirus held “many similarities” to SARS and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
“From the information that we have it is possible that there is limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission,” said Dr van Kerkhove.
Symptoms
The symptoms of the virus have been reported as fever, with a few people enduring difficulty in breathing. While chest radiographs show invasive pneumonic infiltrates in both lungs.
“It is still early days, we don’t have a clear clinical picture,” added Dr van Kerkhove.
According to the UN agency, which has given guidance to hospitals worldwide about infection prevention and control in case the new virus spreads, there is no specific treatment for the new virus, while anti-viral medications are being considered.
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