CASPER, Wyo. – Health experts agree that the latest coronavirus spreading globally is a very serious threat.
They also agree that there is no reason to panic, particularly in states with smaller populations like Wyoming.
Mark Dowell, M.D., medical director of infection control at Wyoming Medical Center and the Natrona County health officer, says this latest coronavirus strain, COVID-19, likely originated from contact between exotic animals and humans. Animal viruses don’t usually mutate into something that affects humans, but it can happen.
“What we think this coronavirus has done has mutated from an animal coronavirus to one that can now bind efficiently to the nasal passages and throat of a human,” said Dowell.
So far there are no reported cases of coronavirus in Wyoming. In neighboring states, as of Wednesday, March 4, there has been one case in Utah and 13 in eastern Nebraska.
“We don’t really know how many people have had it, or have it without symptoms,” he said, “so when you’re looking at fatality rates, we don’t know what they really are but we know they’re low.”
Statistics from China and Iran are difficult to come by, he said, so exact numbers of infections may never be known. So far 11 people have died from coronavirus in the United States, with around 3,200 deaths globally.
“This is a pandemic, this is evolving on a daily basis,” said Dowell of the virus that has virtually shut down some overseas cities as officials rush for containment.
Scary as that sounds, Dowell and other health officials say there’s no need for panic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the virus is most risky for people over age 65, people with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems, people with lung diseases, on dialysis, or with chronic heart failure.
Infants may be at risk, but children have proven to be strikingly resistant to the virus, said Dowell.
Containing the virus’ spread is extremely important, Dowell explains, because it’s new, can be deadly, and the entire population is susceptible to it.
“If it becomes widespread, it could be a big issue for older people,” said Dowell. As of yet there is no vaccine.
Dowell stresses people should take simple, preventative measures.
“Hoarding masks is stupid,” said Dowell, who says their effectiveness in real world situations is very low. Most people are infected with their own hands, which become contaminated by touching surfaces.
“We need to keep the masks available for hospitals, so going out and buying all the hospital supplies is crazy,” he said. “You need to invest in hand (sanitation) gel.”
Dowell says regular and extensive hand-washing is most effective.
“This is mostly so far for all intense and purposes east and west coast, related to the hubs of transportation.”
He says people with travel plans shouldn’t cancel them, but recommends keeping up to date with travel restrictions on the CDC’s website.
Dowell says it is likely there will eventually be cases in Wyoming. The Wyoming Medical Center has rooms that were designed for the Ebola virus outbreak that will be used for any coronavirus cases.
“We have everything ready to go if we get a case of severe coronavirus,” said Dowell, adding that the ER screens people for travel history.
“We’re good to go right now.”
“Don’t live your life paranoid, don’t hole yourself up in a closet. Just go out and live your life and use common sense,” said Dowell.
The best resources for accurate, updated coronavirus information are The Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.
This article originally appeared on Oil City News. Used with permission.
