The Waco-McLennan County (Texas) Public Health District is monitoring a Baylor student with a suspected case of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
The student traveled to China this year.
Testing for the virus was conducted on January 23 and samples are in route to the CDC.
The Health District is working with Baylor University, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local health care providers to take immediate action according to the best practices outlined by the CDC and to provide a coordinated response.
Students who have questions or concerns can contact Baylor Health Services at 254-710-1010 or Health_Services@baylor.edu . An informational call center has been established at 888-283-2158 for students and parents who have questions or concerns.
The public health district says the risk to the general public is low.
The health district is working to identify all those who may have come in contact with the suspected case. Those individuals will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms if the case is positive.
The patient is doing well with minimal symptoms. They have been asked to self-isolate.
Baylor University is working with the patient to ensure that needs are being met during this self-isolation.
As a precaution, anyone with the respiratory symptoms who were in Wuhan on or after December 1, 2019 and has onset of illness within two weeks of leaving, should seek medical attention.
This is not the only suspected case of the coronavirus in Central Texas. The Brazos County Health District is investigating after a Texas A&M student may have contracted a suspected case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
You can view a map of the outbreak here .
The general public is encouraged to practice general preventive actions :
- Everyone 6 months and older is encouraged to get a flu shot.
- 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.
This article was written by Sydney Isenberg for KXXV .
