DuPage County public health officials say they have been in contact with multiple county residents who may have come in contact with a Chicago woman being treated for the coronavirus.
The woman, in her 60s, was diagnosed last week after she returned from caring for her sick father in China earlier this month. She is the only confirmed case of coronavirus in Illinois and one of five people in the U.S. being treated for the virus.
Karen Ayala, executive director for the DuPage County Health Department, told county board members Tuesday they are in contact with the DuPage people who may have come in contact with the woman .
Following the meeting, she declined to say how many people may have been exposed to the deadly virus that originated in China and now is emerging in other area.
Health officials are following the same protocol they would with any other infectious disease and have been reaching out daily over the past week to see if any of those in contact with the Chicago woman are reporting any symptoms, Ayala said.
To date, none have, she said. Health officials would continue tracking those people for another week and are staying in regular contact with state health representatives, she said.
The coronavirus outbreak began last month in the city of Wuhan in Hubei, a Chinese city about four times the population of Chicago. As of Monday, the respiratory virus has killed more than 100 and sickened more than 2,700 people. Five cases have been confirmed in the U.S., all among people who traveled to Wuhan.
Ayala said the risk for contracting the virus is low for the average DuPage County resident. Public health officials have said those who have been in close contact with someone with the virus for durations of more than 10 minutes and at a distance of about six feet or closer may be at risk, but noted most people do not fall into that category.
“The average resident without any travel to this particular province or without contact has very little to no risk,” Ayala said.
She noted that people are more at risk for the flu, which has already claimed six lives in DuPage County this season and put another 32 county residents in intensive care units at area hospitals.
“If you’re concerned about serious upper respiratory infection, please get your flu shot,” she urged, noting it was not too late to get one.
Ayala also encouraged people to follow standard preventative measures, such as hand washing and covering your mouth should you cough or sneeze to help prevent the spread of disease.
Anyone with concerns can contact the DuPage County Health Department at 630-221-7553 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 630-682-7400 after normal business hours or on weekends.
Ayala also said she understands some may be experiencing extreme anxiety or panic or distress about the coronavirus and directed people to the health department’s 24-hour crisis hotline at 630-627-1700
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
