After the deadly coronavirus appeared in China, killing 25 people and with no cure yet, Sarajevo International Airport issued a press release. They claim that they are taking all the necessary control measures, although they have not yet received specific recommendations for protection.
Currently, the Crisis Health and Medical Emergency Plan is used, a document that was adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Bosnian Aviation Act and on the recommendation of the Bosnian Civil Aviation Directorate and the World Health Organization.
“The plan envisages engagement and clearly specifies the obligations of employees of Sarajevo International Airport, Federal Border Inspection Service, Canton Sarajevo and Federal Public Health Institutes, Sarajevo Cantonal Emergency Medical Services, BHANSA, Access and Airport Control Unit, Units Border Police at Sarajevo Airport, Customs Offices Sarajevo Airport, hospital staff and many others in crisis health situations, all involved in the process of acceptance and dispatch passengers,” Sanja Bagaric, a spokeswoman for Sarajevo International Airport, told Dnevni Avaz news portal.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. Chinese health officials have reported hundreds of infections with 2019-nCoV in China, including outside of Hubei Province. A number of countries, including the United States, have been actively screening incoming travelers from Wuhan and human infections with 2019-nCoV have been confirmed in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. The United States announced their first infection with 2019-nCoV detected in a traveler returning from Wuhan on January 21, 2020.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with MERS and SARS. When person-to-person spread has occurred with SARS and MERS, it is thought to have happened via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of SARS and MERS between people has generally occurred between close contacts. Past MERS and SARS outbreaks have been complex, requiring comprehensive public health responses.
Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting person-to-person spread is occurring. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people.
