LOCAL

There aren't any coronavirus cases in Kentucky, but that hasn't stopped fear from spreading

Louisville Courier Journal

The coronavirus scare has reached Kentucky, if not the virus itself.

The state and the Louisville Metro Department for Public Health and Wellness both say they have not confirmed any cases of the virus locally and are not reviewing any suspected cases.

The Kentucky Department of Public Health is receiving a few calls each day from residents and health care providers who think they may have encountered the virus, acting state epidemiologist Dr. Doug Thoroughman said.

Coronavirus live updates:Get the latest news about the virus in Kentucky here

"We've had numerous calls from people who've traveled from China or about patients who've traveled from China, but they've not met the criteria to be a person under investigation," he said. "It could be possible as it spreads across Asia and China further."

State and Louisville health officials say it's natural for people to be worried about new diseases like the flu-like novel coronavirus, which has captured attention across the globe since it was first reported in December in Wuhan, China.

The World Health Organization has designated the outbreak a global health emergency, and the United States continues to report new cases of the virus.

Across the globe as of Tuesday, the outbreak has infected over 20,000 people and killed more than 400, most of them in China. The virus has been confirmed in 27 countries.

In the United States, 11 cases have been confirmed in four states as of Monday, and hundreds more cases were under review in 36 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is no vaccine for the virus, which causes symptoms including fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. It is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

But unless residents have traveled from China or been in contact with a person who's under investigation for coronavirus, they should not be at risk, Thoroughman said.

"The real risk in Kentucky right now is the flu," he said. "... If you have an upper respiratory infection or fever, it doesn't mean you've got the novel coronavirus."

The flu has killed 33 people and sickened more than 13,000 in Kentucky this season.

Dr. Lori Colia, medical director for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, said because the coronavirus is new, information is constantly changing.

"We kind of try to make our best guess based on what we know about this virus in general," Colia said. "Then as more information comes about from the people that become sick ... we're able to look at those things and decide what the incubation period looks like, or how long we need to be worried about people potentially infecting other people."

For now, health professionals are asking anyone who's recently traveled to China to stay home for at least two weeks upon their return, Colia said.

If someone who visited China is experiencing symptoms of the virus, they should contact their health care provider immediately and let the provider know about the potential case so that the facility can prevent its spread, the health department advised.

Thoroughman said the state has asked health care facilities to isolate potentially infected patients and to send samples to the CDC for testing.

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He said the state receives updates on the virus daily and passes the information on to local clinicians and health departments.

Thoroughman said everyone should continue taking normal precautions to prevent the spread of any virus, including washing their hands and covering their coughs and sneezes.

People should also:

Avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Stay home when they are sick
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Dr. Connie White, deputy commissioner for clinical affairs at the state Department for Public Health, said it is understandable that people are worried about the coronavirus.

"Outbreaks of new diseases are always of concern, and with today's connected world, an outbreak anywhere can be a risk," she said.

But "the biggest risk we have in Kentucky now for respiratory illness is the flu," she said. "So we highly encourage everyone who has not received a flu shot to get vaccinated.”

Bailey Loosemore: 502-582-4646; bloosemore@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @bloosemore. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/baileyl.