Global Virus Network (GVN) Statement on New Strain of Coronavirus Infection in Wuhan, China
Global Virus Network (GVN) Statement on New Strain of Coronavirus Infection in Wuhan, China
Baltimore, Maryland, USA, January, 21, 2020: In light of the recent pandemics emerging from China including the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, and the 2013 outbreak of H7N9, an influenza virus that jumped from birds to humans, the Global Virus Network (GVN) will stand by China and relevant international organizations to support efforts to mitigate the new strain of coronavirus, named 2019-nCoV, detected in Wuhan, China. The outbreak originated in a seafood and meat market in Wuhan, a city of 11 million, and has spread to other countries, including the U.S., Thailand, Japan, and The Republic of Korea.
As of January 10, 2020, the new type of coronavirus was isolated in Wuhan and derived from one viral pneumonia patient with clear coronavirus morphology under electron microscopy. Further, nucleic acid of the coronavirus was detected from 15 such patients. Full genome sequence of the coronavirus was also obtained. More information in Chinese can be found here: China CDC
On January 21, 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed nearly 300 cases of new infections with six deaths. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a person traveling from Wuhan, China to Washington State contracted the new strain of coronavirus. Patients have also been identified in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, in addition to Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and South Korea. Countries including the U.S., Thailand, Japan, Russia, India, Australia, the Philippines and The Republic of Korea are screening travelers from Wuhan. Chinese authorities are also reporting evidence that the virus can be transmitted from human to human.
GVN will carefully follow up on the information from China, including the origin of the virus, diagnostic and therapeutic options, and disease progression, among other important findings. GVN’s experts stand ready to contribute to the containment of this new, emerging virus through its international network of laboratories and collective knowledge.
About the Global Virus Network (GVN)
The Global Virus Network (GVN) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, comprised of leading medical virologists from 32 countries. The GVN’s mission is to combat current and emerging pandemic viral threats through international collaborative research, training the next generation of medical virologists, and advocacy. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews
