Flu patients to be tested for coronavirus
Flu patients are to be assessed for coronavirus in a bid to spot whether it is spreading, it has emerged.
Standard flu test samples from patients in some hospitals in England will also be assessed for the virus.
So far diagnostic tests have only been conducted on patients who are believed to be infected, but health officials plan to roll out the assessment more widely.
📣 Today @CMO_England has updated advice for travellers returning to the UK from specific areas affected by #COVID19. Find out more on our blog: https://t.co/CMxwd7mFTb
— Public Health England (@PHE_uk) February 25, 2020
It is not believed that coronavirus is circulating in England, but by rolling out the tests, experts hope to spot any spread and put preventative measures in place.
Public Health England (PHE) has put the new system in place in eight NHS hospitals across the country at intensive care units and severe respiratory failure centres.
Around 100 primary care sites, such as GP surgeries, will also participate in the new scheme so milder cases can also be detected.
“We have taken a belt-and-braces approach throughout this outbreak,” said PHE medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle.
“This new system is another important way we can help limit the impact of Covid-19 in the UK as we continue to ensure we have the best possible intelligence to protect the public’s health.
“There is no change in risk for the public but taking this preparatory step now will enable us to better detect and contain the spread of the virus.
“The UK’s infection control procedures are world-leading, and the system we are announcing today further strengthens our response.”
Nathalie MacDermott, academic clinical lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases at King’s College London, said: “Within certain regions anyone who might be tested for influenza – such as elderly patients in hospital with a respiratory problem, children who have breathing difficulty and have a hospital admission – those are the types of people who are tested for influenza or respiratory viruses when they are admitted to hospital.
“My understanding is that might be added on to that to get an idea of whether there are any cases within the UK that haven’t been picked up on.”
