The health of the University of Arkansas campus community is a top priority for Pat Walker Health Center.

As with any public health concern, the health center is carefully monitoring the global outbreak of a viral infection of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), as well as continually working with various university offices and departments to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest developments.

2019-nCoV is a newly identified respiratory virus that can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. This virus was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak of unusual pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. The outbreak has since spread to other international locations, including the United States. The number of cases and suspected cases is changing daily.

Campus risk remains low; prevention methods encouraged

Currently, the risk to the campus community and general public remains low; however, in the event of a suspected or confirmed case, the health center has procedures in place to screen for potential cases and act quickly.

Those who recently traveled to Wuhan, China are most at risk, and should watch for symptoms, which usually begin within two to three days of exposure, but could take as long as 14 days to develop. Symptoms of this coronavirus can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

There are many illnesses that share similar symptoms, so everyone is encouraged to follow basic prevention guidelines to avoid spreading and contracting respiratory illnesses:

• Keep your hands clean and wash them frequently with soap and water. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it when you cannot wash your hands.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve. When you use a tissue, throw it in the trash immediately.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Do not share cups, straws, or anything else you put in your mouth (especially vaping devices).
• Disinfect surfaces that can be contaminated such as desks, phones, doorknobs, keyboards, etc.

Additionally, flu activity is high in the U.S. and expected to continue for weeks. Anyone who has not received a flu vaccine this season should consider getting the vaccine.

Contextualizing Coronavirus: Panel Discussion

During times of public health concern, community awareness is essential to preventing the spread of communicable illnesses. To help inform the campus community, a panel discussion of university experts will be held to address the current global health emergency.

• Date: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020
• Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Gearhart Hall 026

Speakers: Lyn Edington, R.N.C., director of nursing, Pat Walker Health Center; Kelly Hammond, Ph.D., assistant professor of history and historian of China; Huda Sharaf, M.D., internal medical physician and medical director of Pat Walker Health Center; Trish Starks, Ph.D., professor of history and historian of medicine.

The event is sponsored by the Arkansas Humanities Center of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

More information and latest updates about 2019-nCoV can be found at health.uark.edu or cdc.gov.