So far no coronavirus in Milam County
Our Milam County Health Department is carefully monitoring the coronavirus. We are happy to advise there are no reported cases in Milam County. Your health department is working closely with State and Federal officials, the schools and local health providers to do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the virus is in Texas and each of us must take precautions to prevent its spread.
To date we know of 12 reported cases in Texas, which are in Bexar, Harris and Fort Bend Counties. These appear to be travel related. There have been no deaths in Texas from the disease. However, there have been 534 reported cases in the U.S. with 21 deaths. Worldwide there are 109,835 reported cases and 3,803 deaths.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:
• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It may be possible that a person can get the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Patients with the virus have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
At this time, CDC believes that symptoms of virus may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS coronaviruses.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent the virus. The best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the precautions you take to avoid the flu.
DSHS always recommends these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask:
• The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases.
Milam County will do everything possible to monitor, report and prevent the spread of this disease. Feel to contact the Health Department if you have any questions and we will do our best to keep you appraised of new developments.