Health Highlights: Jan. 20, 2020

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Big Uptick in Cases of New Coronavirus in China

On Monday China reported a surge in the number of people infected with a new coronavirus, including the first cases to arise in the capital, Beijing.

According to the Associated Press, authorities say the total number of cases has now topped 200. A third person has died from the illness in Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the outbreak started.

Chinese state media said that two cases have been reported in Beijing and one in the southern city of Shenzen. In Wuhan, cases now total 198, with 136 new cases being reported.

The infection is thought to have originated in a Wuhan seafood market, which has been closed for an investigation, the AP said.

The coronavirus is spreading to neighboring countries, with three cases having arisen in Japan and Thailand. To help stem the virus’ spread, airports in at least six Asian countries have begun screening incoming passengers from central China, and on Friday U.S. authorities said similar measures are being taken at airports serving San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City.

Speaking on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Li Gang, director and chief physician of the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that “the infectivity of the new coronavirus is not strong.” Infectivity means the rapidity of the virus’ spread between individuals.

This “does not rule out the possibility of limited human-to-human transmission, but the risk of continuous human-to-human transmission is low,” Li said. “With the implementation of our various prevention and control measures, the epidemic can be prevented and controlled.”

Four Los Angeles Teachers Sue Delta Airlines Over Fuel Dump

Four teachers from a Los Angeles area school filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines on Friday, claiming they were exposed to jet fuel on Tuesday when a plane dumped fuel over the school they were working at as it made an emergency return to the airport.

Lawyer Gloria Allred is representing the teachers at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, Ca. At a news conference, the teachers said the fuel fell like rain with “overwhelming” fumes, CBS News reported. The teachers described panicked students crying and screaming.

“The plaintiffs could feel the fuel on their clothes, their flesh, their eyes and their skin,” Allred said at the news conference. “Fuel penetrated their mouths and noses as well, producing a lasting and severe irritation, and a lasting and a noxious taste and smell.”

She added that her firm may add teachers or students to the lawsuit.

Health officials said that nearly 60 school children and teachers were exposed to the vapor and were examined afterwards for minor skin and lung irritations and told to wash with soap and water. None were taken to a hospital.

Delta declined to comment on the pending litigation, CBS said.

On Friday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District the governmental agency that monitors air pollution for parts of Southern California issued a violation to Delta for the fuel dump.

According to Delta, Flight 89 to Shanghai developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport and needed to do a quick return. The jet did land safely, but needed to jettison 15,000 gallons of fuel to do so.

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