The outbreak of a new coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, has elevated public health concerns as it spread globally to countries as far as the U.S. and France.

The spread of this virus has also complicated travel plans locally as upper school students and families prepare for Lunar New Year festivities around the Bay Area this weekend.

Harker’s Director of Health Services Debra Nott and Assistant Head of School Greg Lawson notified parents via email on Wednesday afternoon of actions the school is taking to monitor the virus’ spread. 

“We will take guidance from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and our county and state health departments, and we are monitoring reports from them daily,” Nott and Lawson wrote in the email. 

As of midnight on Jan. 24, China Standard Time (CST), this new coronavirus, identified as 2019-nCoV, has infected 1287 people worldwide with 41 total deaths since its first reported appearance in Wuhan on Dec. 31, including residents from 30 Chinese provinces and cities, according to a report published by the National Health Commission of China (NHC). 

Outside China, there are two confirmed cases in the U.S., two in France and 24 in neighboring East Asian countries, the NHC reports.

Wuhan, located in Southern China, has a population of 8.32 million. Public health officials have placed 4928 people under medical observation as of Jan. 22 (CST). According to the Jan. 24 report from China’s NHC, up to 1965 potential additional cases of the virus are currently pending confirmation.

Zelan Zhang, an engineer in San Jose who is from Wuhan, has family and friends in Wuhan who originally had planned to visit relatives for Lunar New Year celebrations. After the 2019-nCoV outbreak, their plans were cancelled.

Zhang’s family, who live on the campus of Wuhan University and are not yet affected by the virus, have observed recommended preventative measures, including washing their hands regularly, wearing masks and staying indoors as much as possible.

“Outside, there are government announcements posted, preventing people from going outside. This way, the goal is preventing infection,” Zhang said. “[Family members] haven’t gone to public places. If they need to go out and buy something, they drive by themselves, and the supermarkets all have stock to sell.”

Some of Zhang’s friends recently visited Wuhan and returned to the Bay Area around New Year’s Day, before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began screenings at U.S. airports. Zhang noted that they have been “very responsible” with taking preventative measures. In particular, she says, “if they come back, they won’t go see other people and will wear masks.”

The first confirmed case in the U.S., which was reported to the CDC on Jan. 21, involved a man who returned to Seattle from Wuhan on Jan. 15. Texas A&M University stated yesterday that one of its students may have a possible case of the virus, as notified by the Brazos County Health District.

Today, the CDC and the Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed the second travel-related case of 2019-nCoV in the U.S. The patient, who arrived in O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, from Wuhan on Jan. 13, was diagnosed with the virus after experiencing symptoms. The patient is currently hospitalized in an isolation room. Public health officials are currently investigating the illness by tracking close contacts to limit potential spread of the virus. 

Though the CDC considers the 2019-nCoV to be “a serious public health concern,” the organization states that the virus currently poses low risk to the general American public. 

At a dial-in press conference today, health officials the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that they are not declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Officials are still tracking and investigating the outbreak. 

Common symptoms of the virus include fever, cough and shortness of breath and take two to 14 days after exposure to appear, according to the CDC. 

The WHO has published a list of preventative measures that can be taken to minimize risk of infection.

To minimize the risk of illness, Nott recommends the following preventative actions: “Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick.” 

Additionally, Nott emphasizes that if students or faculty have a fever, they should stay home until the fever has receded for 24 hours. 

The CDC has reported that the outbreak may have originated from a large animal and seafood market in Wuhan.

The virus can spread from animals to humans, as well as from person to person, though the risk of person-to-person transmission is currently unclear. 

WHO officials say that person-to-person transmission has not yet occurred outside China and seems to be contained to family groups and medical workers who are caring for infected patients in China. 

Related Stories

Staying Healthy with Saloni: Flu Shot Season

Zika virus spreads across the globe

Upper School reflects on affluenza virus

At 10 a.m. on Jan. 23 (CST), Wuhan officials suspended all transportation in and out of the city, including urban buses, subways, ferries, railways and airplanes. Residents of Wuhan are not permitted to leave the city without special permission.

U.S. health officials began screening passengers last Friday at the three airports that receive most of the traffic from Wuhan: San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX) and New York City (JFK).. This screening measure expanded to include to flights from Wuhan at the Atlanta and Chicago O’Hare international airports on Tuesday. Passengers arriving in the U.S. from Wuhan were rerouted to these five airports for screening. 

The travel restrictions to and from Wuhan coincide with the Lunar New Year holiday this weekend, during which many Chinese families had planned to visit relatives. 

The U.S. Senate, which is currently sitting as the impeachment court, received a briefing today from health officials about the 2019-nCoV.

As health officials worldwide monitor this outbreak and work to limit its spread, Zhang continues to send her support to her family and friends in Wuhan.

“I’m still a little worried, but I will send them some positive information,” Zhang said. “They feel okay. They feel that staying home is safe.”

This is a developing story. Check Harker Aquila for future updates.

Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the office depicted in the photo. The article has been updated to reflect this error.

Note: Harker Aquila’s interview with Zelan Zhang was originally conducted in Mandarin and translated to English.

Additional reporting by Erica Cai and Nina Gee.