The coronavirus, which appeared in China, continues to spread. The first European cases were detected in France. And Charlotte Martin, infectiologist at CHU Saint Pierre, expects that cases will soon appear in Belgium: “I think in the coming days we have to be ready to welcome any cases”, she said, interviewed by RTBF.
But a priori, do not panic if you have not traveled to China in the past 14 days, or if you have not been in contact with someone who returns.
What is more, general practitioners and hospitals have received in recent days all the information to detect the disease. And also the procedures to follow with a possible patient affected by this Chinese coronavirus. Michèle Gerard, infectious disease specialist at CHU Saint-Pierre, details these procedures.
If a patient is suspected of having the virus, samples will be taken and sent to the KUL hospital, the reference hospital for samples. And pending the results, the patient will be placed in solitary confinement in the hospital where he presented.
If the case is confirmed
In this case, explains Michèle Gerard, “either the hospital has the means to isolate the patient at the air level, or he will be transferred to the reference center for emerging viral infections, in this case, the CHU Saint-Pierre, with a specially chartered ambulance”.
Strict measures for those around you
Regarding the entourage of a patient potentially carrying the virus, a hygiene inspector is mandated. He will be responsible for drawing up a list of all the people “who have had risky contact with the patient”, according to the definitions established by the World Health Organization, underlines the expert.
On the other hand, in Belgium, the patient’s contacts are not isolated. They will, however, be closely watched. To know, “a visit of the hygiene inspector twice a day with personalized contacts”.
If relatives also show symptoms of the virus, then they will be subject to the same protocol as the patient.
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