Resources help public health professionals stay informed on coronavirus outbreak

Misinformation about the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is spreading so fast, global health officials have dispatched teams of communications experts to help quash rumors and deliver accurate and timely updates to the public health community and the general public.

Last week, the World Health Organization designated 2019-nCoV a public health emergency of international concern, and the U.S. declared it an emergency soon after. As the situation rapidly changes, resources are available for public health workers to keep up with recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the main source of information for U.S. health professionals, including interim guidance for evaluating patients, infection control, reporting patients under investigation and evaluating specimens.

CDC also has a map of confirmed U.S. cases, a form for reporting patients under investigation, interim risk assessment and public health management guidance, preparedness resources for infection control and more.

Clinicians, lab workers and other public health practitioners can stay up on the latest guidance from CDC by signing up for emails from the agency’s Health Alert Network.

For information on global cases, WHO is sharing daily situation reports. The reports include numbers of reported coronavirus cases to date, which totaled 24,454 as of Feb. 5. All but 194 confirmed cases have been reported in China.

WHO is also debunking myths about the virus with factual information and graphics.

APHA's resources include our Get Ready fact sheet and blog post, which remind people to wash their hands and follow other infection control practices. Such measures are important not only in light of the coronavirus outbreak, but also as seasonal influenza is estimated to have sickened at least 19 million people in the U.S. this season.

Also, APHA’s renowned “Control of Communicable Diseases Manual” has an updated chapter on SARS, MERS and other coronavirus infections.

Bookmark APHA’s communicable disease topics page and check back for links to updated resources as U.S. and international public health officials continue to monitor and respond to the outbreak.

Map image and virus image courtesy CDC