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Campus Health Center - Wayne State University

January 28, 2020

Dear University Community,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring developments around a new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world. There are seven distinct types of coronaviruses. This strain is known as the novel coronavirus because it is a new permutation of existing coronaviruses.

Human coronaviruses commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people who contract them. Two types in particular – MERS and SARS – have been known to cause serious illness and, occasionally, death.

Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in close to 2,700 confirmed cases and 106 deaths in China, with additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally. The first case of the virus in the United States was announced on January 21, 2020 in Seattle, Washington and since then four other cases have been confirmed in the U.S. There is no known cure, although scientists are working on developing an effective vaccine.

Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people are infected with these viruses at some point in their lives. These illnesses typically last for a short amount of time. Symptoms may include:

  • runny nose
  • headache
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • fever, chills
  • body aches
  • a general feeling of being unwell

Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. This is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults.

Officials from the state health department report there is some evidence of limited person-to-person transmission of the virus, but that the risk to the general American public is still deemed low. There have been reports of three suspected patients in Michigan – two in Washtenaw County and one in Macomb County. All three cases have been confirmed as negative.

If you have one or more of the symptoms listed above, please contact your primary health care provider to schedule an appointment. It is particularly important to report to your provider if you have traveled or been in contact with someone who has recently traveled to China.

If you are having any of the above symptoms and need care, please visit a local urgent care center, or call the Campus Health Center at (313) 577-5041 to make an appointment. Office hours Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update you as developments occur.

For more information about the novel corona virus please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

Thank you,
Campus Health Center Staff
313-577-5041