The Port Arthur Health Department is staying in the loop with twice-daily conference calls with state health officials regarding the coronavirus.

Martha Simien, epidemiologist with the Port Arthur Health Department, and Judith Smith, PAHD director of health services, said the Texas Department of State Health Services is providing an update so that PAHD is aware of the latest news.

The Centers for Disease Control lists some of the symptoms as fever, cough and shortness of breath. It ranged from people with little to no symptoms to those being severely ill and dying. It may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

According to CNN, at least 362 people have died from the coronavirus with more than 17,300 infected globally since it was first detected in December. The U.S. has seen nine cases so far.

Past illnesses

So far, there is no vaccination for the coronavirus but scientists are working toward one.

Smith remembers back to 2009 and the H1N1 influenza pandemic began in the U.S. and spread globally.

“We had already given out the (traditional) flu vaccine, then when November came around, that year we did two flu vaccines,” Smith said.

Afterward, H1N1 became a standard part of the flu vaccine.

General precautions after the flu can be sued for the coronavirus: Wash hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

“This time of year with people in crowded facilities you want to make sure you’re washing your hands,” she said. “If you’re sick stay at home. If your resistance is down, don’t go to a crowded place. That’s all we know right now.”

Seafarers not to be feared

The Rev. Sinclair Oubre, executive director of the Port Arthur International Seafarers Center, wants to dispel misconceptions about the seafarers that travel the world.

He remembered when the fear of Ebola was on people’s minds and people were needlessly fearful of seafarers. The same thing is happening again.

It takes at least 14 days, sometimes more, for a container ship to travel from Shanghai to Long Beach, Calif. Should a crew member become sick with the coronavirus, this would likely manifest itself while at sea and the person be quarantined, meaning it’s highly unlikely for an infested person to reach the U.S. with the illness via containership.

Oubre said he has taken some guidance from the U.S. Maritime Administration as well as the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network.

“The big concern for us is the tendency to look down upon the seafarers as someone we have to guard against. As a Catholic port chaplain, this is something I am very sensitive to,” Oubre said.

There are strict maritime guidelines should a person become sick with a communicable illness on board a ship.

The average American has a better chance at coming into contact with the coronavirus at an international airport than from seafarers, he said.

“We want to be observant,” he said. “We want to be cautious, but there is nothing inherent about seafarers having the coronavirus more than any of your friends who have recently flown through an international airport.”