key: cord-308907-elz62jlg
authors: Joob, Beuy; Wiwanitkit, Viroj
title: 2019 Novel coronavirus and awareness
date: 2020-05-04
journal: J Chin Med Assoc
DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000306
sha: 
doc_id: 308907
cord_uid: elz62jlg

nan

We would like to share ideas on publication entitled "Overview of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): the pathogen of severe specific contagious pneumonia (SSCP)." Wu et al noted that "To promptly identify patients and prevent further spreading, physicians should be aware of travel or contact history for patients with compatible symptoms." 1 In fact, the new disease started from Hubei in China mainland and spread to Thailand then to other countries. 2 It is no doubt that the screening can help prevent spreading of the disease. If we focus on travel or contact history or classical clinical feature (fever and cough), we might misdiagnose some cases. Atypical clinical presentation and nonfebrile case is possible. 3 In addition, the patient might get disease from nonsymptomatic patient. In our country, Thailand, some cases are not identified by any screening, but the patients visit the physician by themselves and get final diagnosis.

Finally, the trail of disease transfer is complex. Multistep of disease transmission from China mainland to second and then to third country already occurs. Hence, we have to be aware of the possibility of disease in any patients with suspicious clinical feature regardless of the history of travel or contact to possible infected cases.

Overview of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): the pathogen of severe specific contagious pneumonia (SSCP)

Editorial: Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and imported case

Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China