Awareness On 2019-Ncov: H&S Ministry Announces Information About Pneumonia

The Ministry of Health and Sports announced information about pneumonia caused by 2019 Novel Coronavirus, (2019-nCoV) on Sunday. It said that the Department of Public Health under the Ministry of Health and Sports is taking priority over monitoring and responding to communicable diseases, especially the recent outbreak of 2019-nCoV which was first identified in Wuhan City of China, advising people in Myanmar on the prevention of this disease.

Concerning the Major symptoms of this disease, patients are said to be suspected with Novel coronavirus  when they have got fever (38 C and above), cough, breathing difficulties and fatigue after they have travelled to Wuhan, China, in 14 days, had close contact with the suspected or confirmed patients in 14 days.

The Ministry also raised awareness on the transmission of disease and it may occur through respiratory tracts, like other coronaviruses, from cough and sneeze that can transmit influenza virus, or touching with bare hands to virus on the materials.

In recommendations to prevent infection of corona virus, the Ministry advised that to stay away from the people with the symptoms of respiratory diseases, avoid from crowded areas, use clothes and facemask to cover nose and mouth during sneezing and coughing carefully leave used tissue papers in sneezing and coughing, avoid touching to animals in bare hands, consume animal meats and fishes only after fully cooked, take care of personnel hygiene and get enough sleep and have nutritious foods and take regular physical exercises.

The health workers are urged to follow the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for prevention of the disease whenever they contact with the patients and wash hands after touching materials exposed

to patients and it called for domestic and foreign travelers at the international airports to follow travel advice issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports.