Global Outbreak Update: Pneumonia cases of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China

The causal agent has not yet been identified. All cases are located in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Close contacts are also under medical observation.

• Update Date: 05 January 2020
   
• Time frame and cases: On December 31st, 2019, the WHO China Office was informed of pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. By January 3rd, 2020, 44 patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology have been reported to the WHO country office.
   
• Regions: The cases are focused on Wuhan City only. Authorities reported that some patients were operating dealers or vendors in the Huanan Seafood market. Preliminary evidence shows no human-to-human transmission. No health care worker infections have been reported.
   
• Virus / Vector / Disease Information: The causal agent has not yet been identified or confirmed.
   
• Response: National authorities in China have (1) put 121 close contacts under medical observation, (2) is applying ongoing close contact follow-ups, (3) is engaged currently in pathogen identification and cause tracing, (4) has finished active case finding and retrospective investigations at the municipal level, (5) is applying environmental and hygiene sanitation investigations.
   
• Recommendation: The WHO recommends the application of measures for managing influenza and severe acute respiratory infections. No travel or trade restriction measures are recommended by the WHO at this point.
   
• More information on this update here.

About the esanum Global Outbreak Updates
This section gives our users short updates from the World Health Organization’s Disease Outbreak News (DONs). They provide a glimpse into the day-to-day workings and importance of the overlaps amongst international public health cooperation, epidemiology, and national health systems.
For more information, please visit the WHO’s Disease Outbreak News