Montgomery County Officials continue to monitor Coronavirus Outbreak

CONROE, TX – Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, continue to monitor the coronavirus outbreak that began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. There have been no suspected cases in our county, but we are diligently working with our partners at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to keep our healthcare providers in the county and the public informed.

We recently learned of a suspected case under investigation in Beaumont, Texas. The unidentified man is undergoing testing since being hospitalized on Tuesday. The Beaumont Public Health Department did confirm the man has recently traveled to Beijing, China, which is 700 miles from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, China

How do people become infected with 2019-nCoV?
Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
• Respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing;
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and
• Rarely, fecal contamination.

It’s not clear yet how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person to person. Many of the patients in the pneumonia outbreak caused by 2019-nCoV in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread is occurring. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with 2019-nCoV, and investigations are ongoing.

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What are the symptoms of 2019-nCoV?
Patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
At this time, CDC believes that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS coronaviruses.

How can I avoid infection with 2019-nCoV?
The best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the precautions you take to avoid the flu. CDC always recommends these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• 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.

What do I do if I think I may be infected with 2019-nCoV?
If you have recently traveled or been exposed to someone who traveled to or from Wuhan, China and are experiencing fever, cough or difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider. Be sure to call ahead before going to your doctor’s office or emergency department to prevent any potential spread.
For more information, please see https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/.

Montgomery County Public Health District’s mission is promoting a healthy, resilient community through health education, disease prevention, clinical services, and emergency preparedness. For more information about the Montgomery County Public Health District please go to www.mcphd-tx.org.

Source: Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management

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