By Isha Sesay • Published: 24 Jan 2020 • 20:49
THE deadly coronavirus has reached Europe, with France confirming that two patients have tested positive for the disease.
As Euro Weekly News understands, the first was in Bordeaux while the second was in a suburb of Paris.
The news comes after the United States confirmed a second case of the virus where it is understood that a woman in her 60s is now being treated at a hospital in Chicago. She had contracted the disease after travelling to Wuhan in China, flying home to Illinois on January 13.
The first confirmed case in the US was a man in his 30’s who also became infected after returning home from the Hubei province in Wuhan. Both patients are reported to be recovering well.
It is yet unknown if Europe will now follow suit and implement the same measures that the US have taken to halt the spread of the disease. This includes screening passengers when they arrive at an airports from China and isolating patients who are confirmed to have the disease.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common worldwide and can cause mild to moderate diseases in people and in some instances be fatal.
Coronaviruses are types of viruses that typically affect the respiratory tract of mammals, including humans. They are associated with the common cold, pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and can also affect the gut. According to health studies, patients who present symptoms that include fever, a cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain should seek medical help immediately.
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