Coronavirus panic in London: The 5 symptoms to watch for – as race to trace hundreds at risk begins
OFFICIALS are desperately trying to trace hundreds of people who unwittingly attended a conference with a coronavirus patient in London.
The infected person is said to have went to the UK Bus Summit at the QEII Centre in Westminster last Thursday.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Buses Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton, MPs and transport chiefs were among the 250 people at the event.
Transport Times, the conference organiser, emailed attendees on Thursday afternoon informing them that a person confirmed to be suffering from coronavirus illness – also known as Covid-19 – had been at the event.
Dr Yimmy Chow, consultant in health protection at Public Health England (PHE), said: “One of our main priorities has been to identify any people who we think have been in close contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 to provide public health advice, as they may be at slightly increased risk of catching the virus.
“While the degree of contact conference delegates may have had with the case is unlikely to have been significant, we have taken a precautionary approach and informed them of the situation.”
The case is reportedly not linked to the ninth patient with coronavirus in the UK – a woman from China.
The Transport Times email enclosed a letter from PHE saying delegates should take no action if they were well but to stay indoors, avoid contact with others and call NHS 111 if they developed symptoms such as a fever or cough.
“While the degree of contact you may have had with the case at the summit is unlikely to have been significant, we are taking a precautionary approach and informing you,” the letter said, as reported by the Financial Times.
The bus conference listed about 250 delegates from the nationwide bus and transport industry.
So far, the new illness has claimed 1,384 lives and infected at least 64,000 people.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is the name for a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Sars.
Officially named Covid-19, the virus is a new strain that hasn’t been previously identified in humans.
It attacks the respiratory system, causing pneumonia-like lung lesions.
One of the best ways to protect yourself from catching the new coronavirus is to be aware of the symptoms…
What are the 5 symptoms to watch for?
According to the NHS and the World Health Organisation (WHO), early symptoms of coronavirus infection usually include:
- A runny nose
- A cough and/or sore throat
- A high temperature
- Feeling tired
- Difficulty breathing
These symptoms are similar to other respiratory illnesses such as the flu and the common cold.
However, this new strain is said to more likely to trigger a cough and fever, experts have noted.
And they warn the condition can progress and victims can develop severe complications.
These include pneumonia and swelling in the lungs, which can make it hard for the lungs to pass oxygen into the bloodstream – leading to organ failure and death.
Severe pneumonia can kill people by causing them to “drown” in the fluid flooding their lungs.
How quickly do symptoms come on?
The virus is transmitted between people in droplets from coughing and sneezing and touching or shaking hands.
Symptoms are thought to appear between two and ten days after contracting the virus.
When should I seek help?
If you have travelled to Wuhan or Hubei Province in China (or another significantly affected area) in the last 14 days, or have been in close contact with someone who has and feel unwell, call NHS 111 for advice now.
You should also call NHS 111 if you have travelled to other parts of China, including Macau and Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Republic of Korea or Malaysia in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath.
Public Health England defines close contact as being within two metres of someone for 15 minutes or more or sharing a room for a prolonged period.
The NHS urges people to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as, if you have the virus, you risk spreading it to others.
Health experts are urging people not to go straight to your doctors’ surgery, over fears people will spread the bug there too – but do seek medical help by calling NHS 111.
If you get a cough, a high temperature, or you feel short of breath, continue to follow this advice.
Do not leave your house without getting advice from a doctor.
How can I protect myself?
The best way to prevent catching any form of coronavirus is to practice good hygiene, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
It says that in order to reduce your risk of infection, you should:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
If you have cold-like symptoms, you can help protect others by staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with others.
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You should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze then throw it away and wash your hands.
Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces which you may have touched is also important.
Currently there is no vaccine to protect people against the virus.