FRESH guidelines have been issued for public and private hospitals, and healthcare workers, to detect, manage and prevent the outbreak of coronavirus.
More than 300 deaths have been reported and over 14,000 infections recorded globally as governments battle against the virus, identified by scientists as 2019-nCoV, that was first reported in December in China’s Wuhan province.
Comprehensive
Two Bahraini students who recently returned from China and suspected to be infected with the deadly coronavirus have been moved to Ward 12 of Salmaniya Medical Complex, according to hospital sources.
The students had reportedly returned from Wuhan province where the virus is suspected to have originated.
“Tests continue to be conducted and the two patients were moved to the isolation ward,” the source told the GDN last night.
However, the Health Ministry did not officially confirm the report.In the first reported fatality outside China, the Philippines said yesterday that a 44-year-old Chinese man had died of the infection.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a global emergency.
As part of contingency plans, thermal scanners have been installed at Bahrain International Airport to screen passengers.
“This guideline has been developed as a reference for public health and healthcare workers in Bahrain on managing nCoV infection based on the best available scientific evidence through providing guidance on nCoV surveillance activities in the healthcare setting and in the community,” said a Health Ministry advisory, a copy of which has been obtained by the GDN.
The comprehensive, 50-page document urged healthcare workers to be vigilant in recognising the disease, and be updated with the current developments.
Vaccine
“Doctors, pharmacists, emergency department staff and other point of entry staff will be the first to be contacted by affected members of the public if such diseases appear in Bahrain.”
The ministry said the coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that included the common cold and more serious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).
There is no vaccine for the new strain of virus that can be transmitted between humans, whose symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties.
“Information about nCoV is limited currently, but it is reasonable to assume that nCoV may have a zoonotic (animal-to-human) source, given that many cases were associated with a market containing a range of dead and live animals,” said the advisory.
The ministry requires special patient reporting and case surveillance forms to be filled in by doctors following up suspected cases.
A suspected case is defined as a patient who shows symptoms of the disease, a history of travel to China in the 14 days prior to his symptoms and close physical contact with a laboratory confirmed case of nCoV.
A special hotline, 66399868, has been set up to report suspected or confirmed cases which will be followed up by five senior public health consultants.
Healthcare facilities should collect samples and swabs to be checked in special machines at the public health laboratory.
The ministry will intensify its protocol if there is a laboratory confirmation and inform the WHO, following which the patients would be moved to an isolation unit, and people who have been in contact with the patients would be screened.
“If home isolation is chosen for individuals infected with nCoV who are stable enough, the public health team should assess whether the house is suitable for such a measure,” said the advisory.
The infected individual should not be in contact with other family members, and caregivers/housekeeping should wear masks and personal protective equipment.
Isolation
The decision to permit a healthcare worker to resume duty after an exposure to nCoV should be individualised until cleared by the infection control team.
The GDN reported that the BDF Hospital had last week conducted a simulation exercise for suspected cases of coronavirus where medics dealt with different scenarios from receiving a patient from the airport to the final stage of isolation.
Among Gulf countries, the UAE has documented five cases of the disease so far, as Bahrain urged its citizens to avoid travelling to China.
A number of Bahraini students, studying in China, also recalled the chilling journey back home after remaining confined to their apartments with dwindling food supplies.
Meanwhile, the GDN learned from sources yesterday that Gulf Air union officials have sought protection for staff on duty.
“We have contacted the airline’s executive management to allow cabin crew and ground handling staff to wear protective masks against coronavirus, while performing their duties,” they said.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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