Coronavirus scare in SD
USD Student Health Center keeps students up to date on the developing situation
Althea Ulin / Asst. News Editor / The USD Vista
Everyone has heard the casual coronavirus jokes and distant reports of cases across the globe, but the risk and consequences of this world outbreak are potentially serious and extreme. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a world health emergency on Jan. 30. Wuhan, China is the origin of the outbreak, and is currently in the process of constructing new hospitals to maintain their ability to treat patients. Over 25 countries have now confirmed cases.
The Center for Disease Control reports that carriers of this strain of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) will likely show symptoms as early as two days and as late as 14 days, and those symptoms mirror those of the common cold. The family of coronaviruses are classified as respiratory illnesses which spread through close contact, such as sneezing or coughing on someone. However, the CDC maintains that much is still being discovered about this strain of coronavirus. Considering the uncertainty of this situation, the United States government has decided to extract some American citizens from Wuhan, China and quarantine them upon entry back into the U.S.
Sophomore Chelsea Dunleavy believes some people may be overreacting to the virus.
“I think the coronavirus has a lot of confusion and fear around it,” said Dunleavy. “I’ve heard people talk about it with racially charged sentiments that I haven’t seen with other viruses … from what I’ve seen on the media, it is portrayed as this fast-acting killer disease, and I don’t think it helps to have USD send several emails and hand out flyers about it … I think people need to take a step back and see the actual impact of the virus rather than buying into what the media portrays it as.”
As a virus, the disease cannot be treated with antibiotics, and doctors still have not found an adequate prevention method, treatment, or a cure to the coronavirus. Seven strains of the virus have been found in humans, and research on the virus dates back to the 1960s. There is no absolute source determined to this point, though certain reports suspect either bats or local seafood markets. Over 400 deaths from the virus have been confirmed in China, among over 20,000 confirmed cases.
Sophomore Jack Townsend expressed his thoughts about the coronavirus.
“In some ways it feels so distant from us, as if it’s a fictional opening to a plague movie,” Townsend said. “Even though it’s pretty real.”
Reuters’ polls show that there are currently over 350,000 Chinese students studying in the U.S. and over 10,000 American students studying in China. San Diego is an area that attracts a lot of immigration and study from international students, especially Asian students, so the campuses in the area have a unique position to respond to an issue like this where students need to be protected from outbreak or outbreak hysteria on top of limiting xenophobic campus standards. According to the demographic statistics of USD, the student body is comprised of roughly 2% Chinese students which makes up nearly a quarter of the international student body. USD currently has around 185 international students on campus from China.
The USD Health Center sent out an email report on the situation to alert USD students: “There are currently no known exposures to the Coronavirus in San Diego or on the USD campus. As with any health alert, the university is proactively working with campus partners, as well as local and state resources, to monitor the situation and to protect the health and well-being of the USD community.” Concerning the possible quarantining of USD students in-dorm, the USD Health Center referred to the Department of Health and Human Services as were released in a Feb. 1 report from the USD Health Center. “Effective 5 p.m. February 2, 2020, the U.S. has new travel restrictions and required monitoring. There will be a temporary ban on entry for foreign nationals who have been to China in the past 14 days. American citizens returning from Hubei in the past 14 days will be subject to health screening and up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine. American citizens returning from mainland China in the past 14 days will be subject to health screening and up to 14 days of monitored self isolation.” Similar warning notices were put in multiple common areas around campus to alert students of the severity of the virus. The U.S. has 11 confirmed cases, six of which are in the state of California. San Diego has had one suspected patient, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the test came back negative on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Senior Daisy Nutter acknowledged the severity of the virus, and highlighted the racism it has fueled.
“While the coronavirus is a serious international health issue, and people from all countries should work to prevent the spread of it, I think people are using the fact that it originated in China to be both racist and xenophobic. I have heard of an instance where a Chinese man died from a heart attack because nobody wanted to give him CPR for fear of contracting the virus (in Sydney, Australia),” Nutter said. “You can stay healthy without indulging in racist and xenophobic tendencies.”
If students have concerns or questions about the ongoing coronavirus situation, or if they believe they have any symptoms, the Student Health Center is located in Maher 140 and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.