Nothing to Sneeze at

It’s a family of viruses that ranges from a common cold to more dangerous flus and beyond. Coronaviruses. You might remember the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak early last decade: “SARS first sprang to the world’s attention in early 2003, when more than 8,000 people got sick in an outbreak that spread to 26 countries. Nearly 800 people died.

“Doctors and scientists tracked the disease to southeastern China, near Hong Kong. From there, travelers soon carried SARS to other countries in Asia, such as Vietnam and Singapore, as well as Europe and Canada… Public health officials around the world scrambled to contain the outbreak. We’ve had no reported cases since 2004.

“SARS is caused by a virus that takes over your body’s cells and uses them to make copies of itself. The SARS virus is from a group known as coronaviruses… SARS can spread when people who have it cough or sneeze, spraying tiny droplets of liquid with the virus to other people within 2-3 feet. Other people may get the virus by touching something those droplets hit, then touching their nose, eyes, or mouth… People who live with or are in close contact with someone who has SARS are more likely to get it than someone who is just passing by or sharing a room with an infected person.” WebMD.com (on SARS). 

Why the history lesson? Because there is a new and seemingly deadly new coronavirus building in and around Wuhan, a huge industrial city on the Yangtze River in China’s heartland, that is already traveling internationally and killing. With symptoms that mirror pneumonia and SARS, the new virus – labeled 2019-nCoV – could signal a new pandemic outbreak. The January 20^th BBC.com, explains: 

“There are now more than 200 cases [see below, the number has risen in just two days], mostly in Wuhan, though the respiratory illness has also been detected in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen… Three people have died. Japan, Thailand and South Korea have reported cases.

“The new strain of coronavirus, which causes a type of pneumonia, can pass from person to person, China confirmed… The sharp rise comes as millions of Chinese prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year holidays… Although the outbreak is believed to have originated from a market, officials and scientists are yet to determine exactly how it has been spreading…

“[While contact with animals and animal byproducts is presumed to be the primary source of infection, the World Health Organization] also said it believed there had been ‘some limited human-to-human transmission occurring between close contacts.’… ‘As more cases are identified and more analysis undertaken, we will get a clearer picture of disease severity and transmission patterns,’ it wrote on Twitter.” Generally, such viral outbreaks start out in an “animal-to-human” infection, but if a pandemic follows, it is human-to-human contact that causes the infectious explosion.

Scanners at many international airports, including in the United States can often detect individuals at border checkpoints who have a fever (generally over 101.1F, 38.4C). Customs and passport officers are on the lookout for individuals evincing symptoms of this illness. Flushed faces. Sweating. Obvious flu symptoms. Obvious discomfort. Answers to questionnaires regarding symptoms or recent travels to farms or animal markets.

Not only are such infected individuals subject to quarantine, but those traveling with them may be subject to additional scrutiny plus warnings of possible exposure. These tests are applied both to people arriving and often to people before they board an aircraft and expose fellow travelers. Sometimes the detecting device is a simple thermometer that can be held a few inches from a forehead; in some airports, it is a universal scan (see above picture). These systems can also be applied to farm animals, where these viruses often originate, as well as to border control areas.

The BCC continues: “Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but only six (the new one would make it seven) are known to infect people… Scientists believe an animal source is ‘the most likely primary source’ but that some human-to-human transmission has occurred… Signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.. People are being advised to avoid ‘unprotected’ contact with live animals, thoroughly cook meat and eggs, and avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.”

What is the United States doing about this risk? “Federal officials announced Friday [1/17] that they will immediately begin screening passengers flying into three major U.S. airports… Health workers will screen passengers coming from Wuhan… into Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

“Arriving passengers will answer questions about any respiratory symptoms and will also have their temperature taken, he said. Those whose symptoms don’t match up with the new coronavirus will not be detained… Patients with worrisome symptoms will be taken to a nearby location — officials would not say where exactly — for further testing. There they will answer more questions and will be tested for the new virus as well as other illnesses, such as the flu, that may be causing their illness. 

The testing could take hours…” Los Angeles Times, January 20^th. And they will probably miss any connecting flights. Unless the outbreak subsides, expect the additional screening to cover passengers from additional Asian cities.

“The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the first known case of a new strain of the coronavirus in the US. In a Tuesday [1/21] press conference, a CDC spokesman said a US citizen returning from a trip to central China had been diagnosed in Seattle… The US is the fifth country to report a case of the illness. Nearly 300 cases have been reported in China, Thailand, Japan and South Korea...” the Guardian.com, January 21^st. 

Whether this information might impact travel plans or mingling with recent arriving passengers from exposed areas, I do not know. But that conventional wisdom about washing your hands and avoiding touching surfaces that are not generally germ free (welcome to air travel) continue to have relevance. Caution is not misplaced. Not a huge deal but taking a few additional steps in maintaining a clean environment cannot hurt. Hand sanitizer anyone?

            I’m Peter Dekom, and the greatest danger from globalization certainly is not trade.