The next big threat to global health? 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): What advice can we give to travellers? – Interim recommendations January 2020, from the Latin-American society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI)

Preliminary genome sequencing suggested the snake as a likely wildlife reservoir responsible for the current outbreak of 2019-nCoV infection and origin-unknown homologous recombination identified within the spike glycoprotein of the 2019-nCoV may explain snake-to-human cross-species transmission [2]. The WHO Emergency Committee met on January 23rd and although the situation at that time is not considered to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), WHO monitors the situation closely and can, under the global legal framework, the revised International Health Regulations (IHR), recommend travel and trade restrictions when these are deemed necessary. Similar to the 2003 SARS outbreak in Guangzhou, Wuhan is also a rapidly flourishing capital city of the Hubei province and the traffic hub of central China. [...]both outbreaks were initially connected to “wet markets” where game animals and meat were sold [19]. Key Considerations ●The outbreak is ongoing so that the control measures may vary according to the evolution in the different countries. ●According to preliminary reports, the confirmed cases have a direct or indirect epidemiological relationship with China, and in particular, the city of Wuhan. ●The tourism industry in Latin America is expanding and contribute in the fourth place to the world GDP after Northeast Asia, North America, and the European Union.