While there hasn’t been any confirmed cases in Iowa of the new Novel Coronavirus, public health officials are continuing to educate the public about it.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says there are 12 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S., following when the first confirmed cases were detected in Wuhan, China. What started as an animal-to-person contact is now believed to be transmitted by person-to-person contact through respiratory means. Wolf says the virus has spread from China to other countries, due to travelers coming back from China. 

Wolf points out that while the risk level remains low in Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Health has established screening questions about the virus. Those questions include: Did you travel to China within 14 days of when you got sick? Did you have contact with someone who possibly had the coronavirus in the 14 days before you got sick? Wolf advises what people can do if they believe they may have the virus.

“If you feel like you fit in the group of the screening questions, that you contact your healthcare provider, don’t just show up. Because what they’re going to do is they’re going to screen you when you call in. And then if there’s concern by the responses you give then they may take further action to protect you and others.”

Wolf adds, there is no treatment for the virus. The World Health Organization has deemed this virus is a global emergency and the concern is it being transmitted across the world. Wolf says that is why WHO has established enhanced surveillance and monitoring for travelers. The Centers for Disease Control has recommended no essential travel to China while the virus remains an issue.