FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Media: Burnestine Taylor, M.D.
(334) 206-5100
CONTACT: Monitoring
(800) 338-8374
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) asks that people who have traveled to mainland China (this does not include Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan) and returned to the United States on or after January 22, 2020, to contact the Infectious Diseases and Outbreaks Division (ID&O) at 1-800-338-8374 as soon as they arrive in Alabama.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set interim exposure risk categories and movement restrictions for individuals who may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html). ADPH will use these categories to determine requirements for returning travelers until 14 days after leaving mainland China.
Dr. Burnestine Taylor, medical officer, Disease Control and Prevention, ADPH, stated, “Risk depends on exposure, so those exposed to ill persons are at greater risk of infection. However, the situation is evolving, and risk will depend on how efficiently the virus spreads, and how sick it makes people. Exposure includes, but is not limited to, travel to mainland China or close contact with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV infection. At this time, no cases have been identified in Alabama.”
If you are healthcare provider who suspects that your patient may have 2019-nCoV, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/healthcare.html for steps that should be taken.
Current concerns focus on 2019-nCoV, but human coronaviruses are common throughout the world. Seven different coronaviruses, that scientists know of, can infect and sicken people. Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. There has been some confusion as to whether a positive coronavirus test result is the virus associated with this outbreak. At this time, if a person has a positive coronavirus test result not performed by the CDC, it is not the novel Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV and should not be reported to ADPH. CDC is working with state public health laboratories to expand testing capacity. ADPH will report when testing is available within Alabama for 2019-nCoV.
For more information, please visit the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak page at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. For information specific to Alabama, please visit our website at alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19.
02/04/2020
County health departments throughout Alabama provide a wide range of confidential and professional services. Contact your local county health department for additional information.
Mission: To promote, protect, and improve Alabama’s health
Vision: Healthy People. Healthy Communities. Healthy Alabama.