A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE An infectious disease physician’s COVID-19 journey in Sonoma County BY GARY GREEN, M .D., FIDSA
In October 2019, China began to experience the outbreak of a novel viral respiratory illness, a new disease strain that had not been previously identified in humans. he hinese government suppressed the information for political reasons. In December 2019, however, hinese health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced discovery of a new and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (S RS- o -2). he illness it caused was named O ID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019). Once the world was alerted to the threat, clinical and international events happened quickly. ust days after the WHO bulletin, O ID-19 cases were reported outside of hina, and it became clear the virus was spreading internationally. In mid- anuary 2020, the first cases were identified in the nited States. On anuary 11, 2020, hina shared the virus’ sequence with the international scientific and medical communities, and work began around the globe to address the rapidly spreading health crisis. ebruary 22 report, issued in the Journal of the American Medical Association ( M ) and co-written by a representative from the hinese enter for Disease ontrol and Prevention in eijing, provided vital information on severity of the disease. ccording to the article, 1 percent of early cases could be mild, only 1 percent were asymptomatic the overall case fatality rate was 2. percent, but those over 60 years of age had nearly a 1 percent case fatality rate. his became a clinical compass for healthcare providers. ach day brought an onslaught of new information some true, some not and medical professionals were tasked with sorting through the deluge to find the facts, while at the same time fielding frantic calls and questions from patients and the public. he chaotic, rapid-fire progression felt like standing unprotected in front of an open fire hydrant.
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