Q: What is 2019 Novel Coronavirus?
A: The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, is a new
respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Learn about
2019 Novel Coronavirus.
Q: What is a novel coronavirus?
A: A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new coronavirus that
has not been previously identified. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is
not that same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and
cause mild illness, like the common cold.
A diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1
is not the same as a 2019-nCoV diagnosis. These are different viruses and
patients with 2019-nCoV will be evaluated and cared for differently than
patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.
Q: What is the source of 2019-nCoV?
A: Public health officials and partners are working
hard to identify the source of the 2019-nCoV. Coronaviruses are a large family
of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among
animals, including camels, cats and bats. Analysis of the genetic tree of this
virus is ongoing to know the specific source of the virus. SARS, another
coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from civet cats, while MERS,
another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from camels. More
information about the source and spread of 2019-nCoV is available on the
2019-nCoV Situation Summary: Source and Spread of the Virus.
Q: How does the virus spread?
A: This virus probably originally emerged from an
animal source but now seems to be spreading from person-to-person. It’s
important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some
viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so.
At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading
between people. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged
coronaviruses.
Q: Is 2019-nCoV the same as the MERS-CoV or SARS virus?
A: No. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses,
some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals,
including camels, cats and bats. The recently emerged 2019-nCoV is not the same
as the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or the
coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). However,
genetic analyses suggest this virus emerged from a virus related to SARS. There
are ongoing investigations to learn more. This is a rapidly evolving situation
and information will be updated as it becomes available.
Prevention
Q: How can I help protect myself?
A: Visit the 2019-nCoV Prevention and Treatment page to
learn about how to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses, like 2019-nCoV.
Q: What should I do if I had close contact with someone
who has 2019-nCoV?
A: There is information for people who have had close
contact with a person confirmed to have, or being evaluated for, 2019-nCoV
infection available online.
Q: Does CDC recommend the use of facemask in the
community to prevent 2019-nCoV?
A: No. CDC does not currently recommend the use of face
masks among the general public. While limited person-to-person spread among
close contacts has been detected, this virus is not currently spreading in the
community in the United States.
Medical Information
Q: What are the symptoms and complications that
2019-nCoV can cause?
A: Current symptoms reported for patients with
2019-nCoV have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever1, cough,
and difficulty breathing. Read about 2019-nCoV Symptoms.
Q: Should I be tested for 2019-nCoV?
A: If you develop a fever1 and symptoms of respiratory
illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from
China, you should call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your
recent travel or close contact. If you have had close contact2 with someone
showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area, you should
call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your close contact and
their recent travel. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s
public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for
2019-nCoV.
Q: How do you test a person for 2019-nCoV?
A: At this time, diagnostic testing for 2019-nCoV can
be conducted only at CDC.
State and local health departments who have identified
a person under investigation (PUI) should immediately notify CDC’s Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) to report the PUI and determine whether testing for
2019-nCoV at CDC is indicated. The EOC will assist local/state health
departments to collect, store, and ship specimens appropriately to CDC,
including during afterhours or on weekends/holidays.
For more information on specimen collection see CDC
Information for Laboratories.
Q: What should healthcare professionals and health
departments do?
A: For recommendations and guidance on patients under
investigation; infection control, including personal protective equipment
guidance; home care and isolation; and case investigation, see Information for
Healthcare Professionals. For information on specimen collection and shipment,
see Information for Laboratories.
Public Health Response and Current Situation
Q: What is CDC doing about 2019-nCoV?
A: This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and
CDC will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available. CDC
works 24/7 to protect people’s health. It is CDC’s job to be concerned and move
quickly whenever there is a potential public health problem. More information
about CDC’s response to 2019-nCoV is available online.
Q: Am I at risk for 2019-nCoV infection in the United
States?
A: This is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk
assessment may change daily. The latest updates are available on CDC’s 2019
Novel Coronavirus website.
Q: Has anyone in the United States gotten infected?
A: Yes. The first infection with 2019-nCoV in the
United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The first confirmed instance of
person-person-spread with this virus in the U.S. was reported on January 30,
2020. See the current U.S. case count of infection with 2019-nCoV.
Q: Am I at risk for novel coronavirus from a package or
products shipping from China?
There is still a lot that is unknown about the newly
emerged 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and how it spreads. Two other
coronaviruses have emerged previously to cause severe illness in people (MERS
and SARS). 2019-nCoV is more genetically related to SARS than MERS, but both
are betacoronaviruses with their origins in bats. While we don’t know for sure
that this virus will behave the same way as SARS and MERS, we can use the
information from both of these earlier coronaviruses to guide us. In general,
because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is
likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over
a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures. Coronaviruses are generally
thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. Currently there is no
evidence to support transmission of 2019-nCoV associated with imported goods
and there have not been any cases of 2019-nCoV in the United States associated
with imported goods. Information will be provided on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
website as it becomes available.
Travel
Q: Is it safe to travel to China or other countries
where 2019-nCoV cases have occurred?
A: The situation is evolving. Stay up to date with
CDC’s travel health notices related to this outbreak. These notices will be
updated as more information becomes available.
Q: What if I recently traveled to China and got sick?
A: If you were in China and feel sick with fever,
cough, or difficulty breathing, within 14 days after you left, you should
• Seek medical
care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call
ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
• Avoid
contact with others.
• Not travel
while sick.
• Cover your
mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or
sneezing.
• Wash hands
often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus
to others. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
alcohol, if soap and water are not available.
CDC does have additional specific guidance for
travelers available online.
2019-nCoV and Animals
Q: What about animals or animal products imported from
China?
CDC does not have any evidence to suggest that animals
or animal products imported from China pose a risk for spreading 2019-nCoV in
the United States. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be
updated as it becomes available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS) play distinct but complementary roles in regulating
the importation of live animals and animal products into the United States. CDC
regulates animals and animal products that pose a threat to human health, USDA
regulates external icon animals and animal products that pose a threat to
agriculture; and FWS regulates external icon importation of endangered species
and wildlife that can harm the health and welfare of humans, the interests of
agriculture, horticulture, or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife
resources.
Q: Should I be concerned about pets or other animals
and 2019-nCoV?
While this virus seems to have emerged from an animal
source, it is now spreading from person-to-person. CDC recommends that people
traveling to China avoid animals both live and dead, but there is no reason to
think that any animals or pets in the United States might be a source of
infection with this new coronavirus.
Q: Should I avoid contact with pets or other animals if
I am sick?
Do not handle pets or other animals while sick.
Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick
with 2019-nCoV, several types of coronaviruses can cause illness in animals and
spread between animals and people. Until we know more, avoid contact with
animals and wear a facemask if you must be around animals or care for a pet.
Footnotes
1 Fever may not be present in some patients, such as
those who are very young, elderly, immunosuppressed, or taking certain
fever-lowering medications. Clinical judgment should be used to guide testing
of patients in such situations.
2 Close contact is defined as—
1. being within
approximately 6 feet (2 meters), or within the room or care area, of a novel
coronavirus case for a prolonged period of time while not wearing recommended
personal protective equipment or PPE (e.g., gowns, gloves, NIOSH-certified
disposable N95 respirator, eye protection); close contact can include caring
for, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area or room with
a novel coronavirus case.– or –
2. having
direct contact with infectious secretions of a novel coronavirus case (e.g.,
being coughed on) while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment.
See CDC’s Interim Healthcare Infection Prevention and
Control Recommendations for Patients Under Investigation for 2019 Novel
Coronavirus
Data to inform the definition of close contact are
limited.
Considerations when assessing close contact include the duration of
exposure (e.g., longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk) and the
clinical symptoms of the person with novel coronavirus (e.g., coughing likely
increases exposure risk as does exposure to a severely ill patient). Special
consideration should be given to those exposed in health care settings.
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