The party has been canceled. The coronavirus blame, the celebrations of the Chinese New Year did not take place Sunday in Paris, nor in Bordeaux. After the confirmation of three cases, without gravity, in France, the authorities are still awaiting the results of tests carried out by six other people, who have transited through China and have respiratory symptoms, which may indicate contamination.
Sunday evening, Agnès Buzyn also announced the repatriation in the middle of the week and "by air" of several tens, even hundreds of French people currently in Wuhan. Supervised by a dedicated medical team, they will stay on arrival at a specific reception place for fourteen days. In China, the death toll stood at 56 dead yesterday and nearly 2,000 contaminations.
Who can be affected?
The men and women who have recently stayed in China, and more particularly in the region of Wuhan, a city of 11 million inhabitants in the center of the country. Good to know, the incubation time of the virus goes from two to fourteen days. Also at risk is anyone who has been in close or direct contact with an infected patient. "Narrow" means that she shared the same living space with him (a room, a car, etc.). "Direct", that it was "face-to-face, less than a meter from the sick person at the time of a cough, a sneeze or during a close discussion", details the ministry of Health which opened a dedicated site.
"The risk of catching it in France remains very low, reassures the emergency physician Patrick Pelloux. We received calls from people worried because they had met Asian tourists! You have to keep and not fall into medical racism or psychosis! "
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What are the symptoms ?
"They are simple and classic, like those of the flu," says Professor François Bricaire, a renowned specialist in infectious diseases. If fever is the first of them, it can also be headaches, fatigue, sweating, chills as well as "respiratory signs such as cough, discomfort, shortness of breath", continues the doctor. At present, severe forms of viral pneumonia have affected elderly, frail people or people with a family history in China. In France, the first three confirmed patients - two men aged 48 and 31 and a woman aged 30 - had slight signs and are now "very good", according to health authorities. The results of six other people who transited through Wuhan are awaited.
Is it necessary to wear a mask?
" Especially not ! This is useless, "swept Sunday evening Minister Agnès Buzyn, adding that if the need arises one day, the authorities, who have tens of millions in stock, would distribute them. “To protect yourself from the coronavirus, it doesn't make sense. But if this port can reassure people, why not… temper Patrick Pelloux. And then it can be a tool to limit our hexagonal flu, which is very active! Last year, 9,900 people died. François Bricaire abounds: “When a virus circulates, the mask on the face is not useless for protecting oneself and others, in particular from the postilions that one can receive and send to one's neighbor. In times of flu, you can put it in public transport, for example. The two doctors also recall the flagship barrier measure: hand washing with soap! As well as sneezing, masking his mouth with his elbow.
What should I do if I'm afraid of being infected?
Rule number 1, if you have symptoms and you return from a trip to China or have had contact with a proven case: "call center 15", said Saturday Pierre Carli, boss of Samu Paris. According to him, "all the Samu in France have been prepared". Going to the emergency room or to your doctor increases the risk of spreading. On the phone, 15 is provided with a very detailed questionnaire. In case of strong doubt, the patient is taken care of and taken to a specialized service, where he is put in a so-called isolation room (the air enters but it does not leave). In a few hours, the diagnostic test, carried out from a saliva sample or a sputum, gives its verdict.
In case of travel, advice sheets for travelers are also available on www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
