Novel coronavirus spreads around the globe; CDC confirms U.S. case

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The newly identified coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has infected hundreds in China, killed six, and has begun to spill out of China’s borders has had Twitter busy. There’s been a surprising amount of seriousness and very little snark up to this point. And that’s pretty amazing. Maybe there’s still hope for the Twitterverse.

Here’s a taste of what people have been saying:

The World Health Organization announced that it has called an Emergency Committee to help address the many scientific, policy, and logistical issues

The Emergency Committee on the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) will ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, and what recommendations should be made to manage it pic.twitter.com/dFpOkM0CSN

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 20, 2020

The 2019-nCoV was put into context as the situation continues to develop. The following graph illustrates the dramatic spike in confirmed cases in China. It does call into question whether the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has deliberately downplayed the threat for weeks. (More on that later.)

CNN is reporting that @CDCgov will announce the first case of Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States today. https://t.co/lYjBlHnNe0

— EcoHealth Alliance (@EcoHealthNYC) January 21, 2020

Symptoms include fever, fatigue and a dry cough in most cases, shortness of breath for some. pic.twitter.com/h7UM4ZtHma

— David Josef Volodzko (@davidvolodzko) January 20, 2020

The spike in confirmed cases came on the heels of the official announcement from Chinese public health officials that, indeed, the coronavirus is transmissible from person-to-person. The revelation considerably increases the seriousness of the situation.

CNN is reporting that @CDCgov will announce the first case of Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States today. https://t.co/lYjBlHnNe0

— EcoHealth Alliance (@EcoHealthNYC) January 21, 2020

https://twitter.com/yananw/status/1219200510042894337?s=21

Countries have begun screening travelers from China at airports. The coming Chinese New Year has governments on alert. Millions of people will be travelling back to and within China during the celebration. Returning travelers can potentially spread the disease around the world.

The U.S. will begin — at JFK, LAX and SFO — screening passengers who are traveling from Wuhan, China, for a virus that has caused a pneumonia outbreak in that city.

The CDC says at this moment the risk of infection to the general American public is low.https://t.co/QMYjMoHaND

— NPR (@NPR) January 17, 2020

#nCoV2019 #Coronavirus – #Taiwan confirms 1st #Wuhan 2019-nCoV coronavirus case – Republic of China reported its first confirmed case of a new type of coronavirus from traveler to Wuhan, #PRC.https://t.co/byYqoQRPpY

— R.E.A.L Human Rights (@realhumanrights) January 21, 2020

Wuhan virus: Singapore to isolate all travellers from China with pneumonia https://t.co/FX58Vu5Iao

— /r/worldnews (@r__worldnews) January 21, 2020

There is some reticence regarding how the Chinese authorities have handled the situation and whether they have been completely forthcoming about the threat. There’s some history there. Business Insider vocalized what many were thinking.

The last time China was hit by a deadly illness like the Wuhan virus, it covered it up and 774 people died. There are fears it could happen again. https://t.co/OcGgJwDyQM

— /r/worldnews (@r__worldnews) January 21, 2020

Then there’s this…

https://twitter.com/shenlulushen/status/1219434016899837957?s=19

Meanwhile, citizens of the Twitterverse have spoken eloquently in the way only Twitter’s character count does…

In the light of emergence of n-CoV2019 – a suggestion and plea! Investigators, Journals, Reviewers, National Authorities, Funders – all contributing to understanding the epidemic – please share information with National Authorities, directly with @WHO immediately.

— Jeremy Farrar (@JeremyFarrar) January 21, 2020

@DoBazac does not mince words nor waste characters.