March 3, 2020 • Local News
El Paso region braces for coronavirus; 2 people being tested for illness in Juárez
El Paso region braces for coronavirus; 2 people being tested for illness in Juárez
The coronavirus could be at El Paso's border, with health officials in Mexico investigating two possible cases in Juárez.
Up until now, the Borderland has remained untouched by the outbreak that has made its way to all continents except Antarctica.
In any case, area health officials already are preparing.
A task force of public agencies and private groups in Chihuahua, New Mexico and Texas are communicating and sharing medical response protocols for treating patients suspected of having the virus.
That system is being put to the test now with the two individuals in Juárez who are being tested.
Mexico has reviewed 76 suspected cases, including some that still are being evaluated, according to the Mexican Secretariat of Health.
A total of five cases of coronavirus had been found in Mexico as of Sunday. Two are in Mexico City, one in Sinaloa, one in Coahuila and another in Chiapas, according to data released by the government. All patients had been to Italy.
"There are no borders or boundaries that are respected by this disease," said Fernando Gonzalez, lead epidemiologist with the El Paso Department of Public Health.
Gonzalez said the community is asked to remain calm and keep up to date on the virus from "formal" sources of information.
"With new viral diseases, when an emergency is declared, we get nervous and worry," he said. "You to need to get a real sense of what the disease is and not speculate."
Gonzalez said test kits are becoming available. And, if they're used, the tests results will be transferred from a hospital to the health department and to the CDC.
He mentioned that medical groups and services in El Paso have access to highly sensitive surveillance systems and on-call services that will help inform medical professionals quickly if there are developments.
But while local groups prepare for the arrival of the illness in the community, Gonzalez said residents should practice basic hygiene and implement preventive measures.
"Wash your hands. Don't touch your face," he said. "Viruses are deposited on common surfaces, including your desks, tables and cellphones."
Call before seeking medical help
Dr. Armando D. Meza, an infectious disease specialist and an associate academic dean at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, said residents are being asked to call before seeking help with coronaviruslike symptoms. Notification provides an opportunity for staff to take precautions, he added.
Meza said patients will be evaluated quickly to determine which medical responses are needed. Patients who exhibit signs of the coronavirus will be treated according to guidelines from the CDC, he added.
Staff may put patients with symptoms in single rooms with negative pressure, which does not allow air to escape, Meza said.
Meza said what has most medical professionals concerned is that the there are no existing proven treatments or vaccines for the illness.
"That is the race against time we have to play with," he said.
He recommended that residents review the daily updates the CDC provides on the illness. Also, individuals with chronic issues or challenges with their immune systems should get reliable information on the virus.
Coronavirus first detected in China
The illness is a novel coronavirus first detected in China, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also is known as COVID-19. On Jan. 30, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared an outbreak of the illness to be a public health emergency of international concern.
The next day, Alex Azar II, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency.
Coronaviruses belong to a large family of viruses common in people and many different species of animals, according to the CDC. Symptoms that appear within two days to 14 days after being exposed to the illness include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
As of Monday afternoon, six people had died after contracting the illness and 96 cases were reported in the United States. In Texas, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg declared a public health emergency and called for 120 medical evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who are quarantined in San Antonio to remain at Lackland Air Force Base for more testing.
He banned evacuees at the base from entering the city because someone with a "weakly positive" test result of the virus had been released Saturday. She went to a hotel and a mall before being returned to quarantine.
CDC prevention tips
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including the coronavirus.
- Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of coronavirus infection to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
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