France confirms first case of novel coronavirus
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in France has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of one confirmed, and the first case with infection of the novel coronavirus (NCoV) on May 8.
According to the case, the patient became ill on 23 April 2013 and later developed respiratory symptoms. Laboratory confirmation with nCoV was confirmed on 7 May 2013 by Institut Pasteur. The laboratory confirmation was obtained from a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen (a medical procedure in which bronchoscope is passed through the mouth or nose into the lungs to obtain fluid for examination) after a nasopharyngeal specimen (secretion from the uppermost part of the throat) tested negative.
The patient is currently hospitalized. Preliminary investigation reveals that the patient had a history of travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
In a speech by French Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Marisol Touraine today, she confirmed the patient is in intensive care and placed in isolation.
The Minister confirms the travel history of the patient and says the patient was hospitalized first in Valenciennes on April 23 and then transferred to hospital Douai 29.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health launched a thorough epidemiological investigation surrounding this case.
The Ministry has, since December 2012, put in place the necessary measures to monitor these coronavirus infections. The Directorate General of Health informed the regional health agencies, learned societies, health professionals and the companies support and repatriation. In the event of the occurrence of the event on the French territory, the DGS has also seized the High Council of Public Health (HCSP) that made March 19, 2013 its opinion on the management of patients with suspected infections due to the new coronavirus (HCoV-EMC). InVS posted on its website recommendations to practitioners on the identification of possible cases and laboratory confirmation.
The Ministry established a hotline:
A green public information number will be operational from today 16h
0800 13 00 00 and available Monday to Saturday from 9h to 19h (including Thursday, May 9)
From September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a global total of 31 laboratory confirmed cases of human infection with nCoV, including 18 deaths.
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