Parish native gets a first-hand look at effects of Coronavirus; similar threats found in SW La.

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Pine Prairie native Sara Nugent, who is a 2011 graduate of Pine Prairie High School, lives near the center of the Coronavirus outbreak. Nugent recently moved to Yangzhou, China, to teach English. Now she is only six hours away from ground zero of the Coronavirus. According to her, China is a virtual ghost town. “Everyone is scared to go outside. I’ve been home for a couple of weeks and I still have a couple more to go. I can’t really go outside and do anything. No one can.”
Because of the virus and how easily it is transmitted from person-to-person, Nugent has not been able to leave her home. The Chinese government is advising people to stay at home while the country tries to contain the outbreak. Now Nugent’s teaching position has been put on hold. “School is shut down until further notice,” she said, adding “I spoke to my boss today and he says he doesn’t expect it to open back up before the end of February.”
When the virus was first brought to light, Nugent was visiting Beijing and was alarmed to see sick masks were sold out everywhere. “We couldn’t find masks anywhere in the city. It’s crazy because that city is massive. We had to go on both trains and planes to get back to our city and the whole time people are coughing. I was scared I was picking something up.”
Nugent has no signs of the virus, but she has not been able to leave her apartment for several weeks because of the Chinese government’s policy on infectious disease outbreaks. Most teachers, she said, have decided to leave China, but she plans on staying.
Back in Louisiana, the medical director for the Louisiana Bureau of Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch, said there is no threat to the state at this time. There have only been a handful of cases in the U.S., but none have touched Louisiana. Right now, being prepared is key.
Airports around the state are putting up signs listing the symptoms of the Coronavirus. Medical personnel are looking for symptoms as well, and are preparing to test anyone who does not feel well and who also has been to China, specifically if they traveled to Wuhan, China. Hospitals are watching for flu-like symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fever, and coughing. People with these symptoms will be asked if they have traveled out of the country and will be tested. If anyone tests positive for the virus, they will be quarantined.
The best precaution is to cover your mouth when you cough, and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
While the Coronavirus is not a threat locally, Lake Charles is seeing an outbreak of norovirus, and it is spreading to Vernon and Calcasieu parishes. Norovirus is commonly called “stomach flu,” but it is not influenza. It is a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness which can affect people of all ages. Norovirus is spread by direct contact with an ill person, consuming contaminated food or beverages, and touching contaminated surfaces with your hand and then touching your hand to your mouth.
According to Dr. Welch, “People with norovirus can easily spread the illness from the moment they begin experiencing symptoms to several days after they recover. Some people can continue to spread norovirus for up to three weeks. There are no medications to prevent norovirus, which is why frequent handwashing is your best protection.”
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, body aches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and feeling run-down. If someone has norovirus, they should stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting have stopped. Food handlers and healthcare providers and those who work with children should stay home for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
As always, thoroughly washing your hands is the best deterrent, but you should also clean and disinfect surfaces with bleach-based household cleaners. Clothing should be washed in hot water and dried with the highest heat setting, and wear disposable rubber gloves when handling soiled items.