“Wuhan Pneumonia” is a new strain of illness that poses a threat to travelers. It is also being referred to as “novel coronavirus,” which means the strain is newly identified. We strongly recommend that you monitor the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website, particularly if you are flying to China. This post is to focus on what travelers need to know about Wuhan Coronavirus.
Flight Update: January 31, 2020: Delta, American, and United are suspending all China mainland flights as coronavirus crisis grows. Other carriers, especially Chinese carriers, have also been canceling flights. If you are currently booked to travel to an affected region, you can get a full refund, and we can help you look for alternative flights and dates.
Latest information about the Wuhan Coronavirus
- China has quarantined over 20 million people in 3 cities near the center of the Coronavirus outbreak (Wuhan, Ezhou & Huanggang)
- Transportation in and out of Wuhan has been closed including flights, trains, subways & buses. Some news outlets also show roads being closed.
- A real time test that can diagnose 2019-nCoV is available.
- The situation is evolving with new information coming out often several times per day. Check for updates at the CDC or WHO websites.
- Hundreds of millions of people travel to China for the Chinese New Year later this week, which raises the risk of the virus spreading.
- JFK, San Fransisco International, Los Angeles International, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International and Chicago O’Hare are all screening passengers for the virus in the U.S. Along with airports in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea screening passengers for fever.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement that the new virus generally presents a low risk to U.S. citizens who do not travel to China, but the agency is conducting the screenings at major airports as a precaution on incoming flights.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Examples of other coronaviruses were SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome,) & MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome.) This new virus strain is causing an outbreak of respiratory illnesses. It started in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, sometime in early December 2019, with Chinese officials now reporting hundreds of cases in the city of Wuhan. Cases have also been reported in other countries including 1 in the U.S., a person that had just traveled to Wuhan. It is expected many more cases will be confirmed. It appears to be highly contagious. Symptoms include cough, fever, fatigue & difficulty breathing.
What Can Travelers do to Protect Themselves?
The CDC is advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. Again they stated the risk is low in the U.S., but there are some preventive measures you can take.
- Visit a doctor before you travel to another country. Talk to them about vaccines & medications recommended for your destination.
- Monitor travel warnings & alerts from the US Department of State.
- Travel with disinfecting wipes. I always travel with Clorox wipes & a travel size Lysol spray. From airplane trays, arm rests & seat belt buckles, to door jams, remotes & telephones in my cabin or hotel room, disinfecting is the first thing we do.
- Have hand wipes. Antibacterial wipes such as Germ-Away for example, are also part of our travel routine. If you don’t have wipes, at least carry hand sanitizer.
- If you are flying on a plane and want peace of mind, consider taking a medically approved face mask with you, since viruses can be spread through coughing and sneezing. It is flu season here in the U.S., so why not have it available just in case?
- Avoid shaking hands, hugging, kissing, sharing cups or utensils.
- Wash your hands often, preferably with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer if you are somewhere cannot wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if you have not washed your hands.
- Follow food & water safety. Only drink bottled water. Don’t eat raw or uncooked meat. You can read more on our blog post Foods You Should Avoid When Traveling Abroad.
- We always recommend having travelers insurance that includes medical evacuation coverage, just in case you do get sick. Many health insurance provides will not cover you when you are outside of the country.
- If you do become ill after traveling to or within China, report your symptoms to a health care facility right away.
Related: Preventing Norovirus While Traveling on a Cruise
Final thoughts…in 2003, the SARS outbreak resulted in over 8,000 cases & had a huge financial impact on China’s economy. With it’s impact in mind, China and countries around the world have taken much quicker action this time around by implementing screening at major airports and now shutting down non-emergency travel into Wuhan. Yet many experts feel that travel restrictions do little to prevent the spread and are a waste of time & money.
Note: We share tips for health, travel & preparedness, but this is not official medical advice. Please contact your medical professional if you have questions or symptoms.
