BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The top health leader in Erie County is calming fears about the growing numbers of the coronavirus across the globe.
Erie County Department of Health Commissioner Gale Burstein met with members of the media in Buffalo Wednesday. The commissioner provided an update on protecting you and your family from the coronavirus.
“We have no laboratory confirmed cases of this novel coronavirus in Erie County,” remarked Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Health Commissioner.
Burstein said there are no confirmed cornaviurs cases in New York State. Ten samples were tested. Seven returned negative. Three are still pending.
Due to privacy, Burstein could not say if any of the three are from this region, but any suspected cases will be investigated.
“We send specimens in consultation with the state health department and CDC,” responded Burstein.
The CDC says the incubation period is two to 14-days after exposure.
Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Public fears were fueled in a Facebook post by Tonawanda Fire, saying Ellicott Creek EMS responded to a 'difficulty breathing' call in Amherst with a person who returned from China this week.
“We really all have to be smart about this and remember what our informational sources are and some random Facebook guy that posts something may not be a reliable source of information,” Burstein said.
“How are the first responders treating this? Because we are hearing that fire departments are taking precautions. What can you tell the public about that and the exposure to people who might have traveled over there?” asked Buckley.
“That if the individual is ill and agrees – would be taken to a health care facility and the health care facility would communicate with the Erie County Health Department,” replied Burstein. “We isolate all cases, all symptomatic, who have tested positive for the coronavirus will be isolated. We will interview them, get information about close contacts in the past 14 days and go out and get those contacts and investigate there and see if they were ill.”
Fast stats for you on the coronavirus:
· 6,000 confirmed cases worldwide
· 19 countries with confirmed cases, majority in China where illness originated
· 132 deaths
· Five positive cases in the United States, still 92 tests pending at the Center for Disease Control
· 36 U.S. States under investigation
The county health commissioner noted that while there are still three samples in the state, she reminds the public there are 19-million people in New York State, putting the lower testing numbers in perspective. Still, she says the situation is changing every day and it’s hard to predict what will occur next.
Dr. Burstein noted it has been a difficult season for respiratory virus, specifically influenza where this year there have been 44,000 confirmed flu cases in New York State.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus jumped to 6,000 on Wednesday, surpassing the 5,327 in mainland China during the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003.
There is no vaccine for the coronavirus. The best thing you can do to help prevent getting sick:
· Always wash your hands
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
· If you have no soap & water, used alcohol-based product on your hands
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick
· If you’re sick - stay home.
The county health commissioner noted that while there are still three samples in the state, she reminds the public there are 19-million people in New York State, putting the lower testing numbers in perspective. Still, she says the situation is changing every day and it’s hard to predict what will occur next.
If you are considering traveling outside the U.S. you can go to the CDC website for 'Travel Health Notices'.
For more resources you can also go to the following:
·CDC, Novel Coronavirus in China
· Erie County Department of Health
