Infectious Disease

Coronavirus: First Person-to-Person Spread Confirmed in US

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern, in an effort to limit further spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak outside of China.

“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, MSc, during a press conference held by the WHO Director General on January 30, 2020.1

“The speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive, and beyond words. So is China’s commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries. In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response. It’s not an exaggeration,”

He went on to summarize the recommendations of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on 2019-nCoV for the prevention of spreading of the virus in 7 key areas:

  • WHO does not recommend measures that will interfere with international travel and trade.
  • Countries with weaker health systems must be supported.
  • The development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics should be accelerated.
  • Combat the spread of rumors and misinformation.
  • Evaluate what is needed to identify, isolate, and care for cases to prevent transmission.
  • Share data with WHO and the world.
  • All countries must work together in solidarity and cooperation to stop the outbreak.

“This is the time for facts, not fear. This is the time for science, not rumors. This is the time for solidarity, not stigma,” he concluded.

WHO’s announcement came on the same day that the first person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV was confirmed in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on January 30, 2020, that an individual who shared a household with one of the patients confirmed to be infected with 2019-nCoV has also contracted the infection.

“Given what we’ve seen in China and other countries with the novel coronavirus, CDC experts have expected some person-to-person spread in the US,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D.  “We understand that this may be concerning, but based on what we know now, we still believe the immediate risk to the American public is low.”2

—Michael Potts

References:

  1. WHO Director-General's statement on IHR Emergency Committee on Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-statement-on-ihr-emergency-committee-on-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov). Published January 30, 2020. Accessed January 31, 2020.
  2. CDC Confirms Person-to-Person Spread of New Coronavirus in the United States [press release]. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; January 30, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p0130-coronavirus-spread.html.