The European Union remains on guard after the first cases of new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in France. The Health Security Committee was scheduled to meet in the afternoon of Monday 27 January to discuss the new analysis by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that the likelihood of importing new cases into Europe is moderate.
Coronaviruses were identified in the mid-1960s and are known to infect humans and a variety of animals (including birds and mammals). So far, they have caused two epidemics: one in 2002, mainly affecting Asia, and another in 2012, this time mainly affecting the Middle East. The new coronavirus, whose symptoms are fever, cough and myalgia or fatigue, has so far infected 2,820 people and caused 81 deaths. While all the deaths were recorded in China, the contaminations also affected the rest of the world, including the United States (2 cases), Canada (1), Australia (4) and France (4), according to the latest official figures.
The ECDC risk assessment, the second of its kind, concludes that the potential impact of 2019-nCoV outbreaks remains high and that further global spread is likely. However, it states that there is currently a “moderate” likelihood of importing new cases into the European Union/European Economic Area. And to insist on adherence to appropriate infection prevention and control practices to minimize the risk of contamination.
It is on the basis of these conclusions that the Health Security Committee met for the third consecutive time since the emergence of the infection. Representatives of the health authorities of the Member States were to discuss the first cases of coronavirus in France, preparedness measures (including in hospitals), information to be provided to travellers, prevention and co-ordination of response measures. This meeting was still in progress as this edition went to press. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)