The following message is from CSN President Dr. Federico Zaragoza:
Dear CSN Family,
As you may have seen on the news, a new respiratory virus has been identified as the Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV. This virus was first identified in the city of Wuhan, China, and most of the cases have been contained to China. However, the virus has spread to other countries, including the United States.
This is a virus that has not previously been seen in humans and the situation with regard to this virus is still unclear. In some cases, this virus has caused severe illness, including a number of deaths. Most patients exhibit much milder symptoms.
Symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, may occur in as little as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. This virus reportedly originated from an animal source, but now appears to be spreading from person to person. It is likely that the virus is spread by respiratory droplets produced from coughs or sneezes, similar to the cold or flu.
I urge our students and staff to take extra precautions and read more information about Novel Coronavirus is available from the CDC.
During this time, students and/or faculty or staff who have had recent travel to China should be encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath. I want to thank the staff of the International Center for taking proactive steps to reach out to all of our CSN students from China.
Anyone with travel history to China within the last 14 days with respiratory symptoms, or anyone who has had contact with someone suspected to have 2019-nCoV, should be evaluated by a health care provider. Please call the medical facility and let them know about your recent travel history before arriving to the clinic.
As a reminder to all our faculty and staff, here are some simple guidelines to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- 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.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.
Federico