Summary: In this episode, WA Health experts Professor Paul Effler and Dr David Spiers discuss the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and the current situation as at 4 February 2020. In this podcast, the GoodGP explores the background on the coronavirus and the theories about how a virus such as this can start in the human population. The podcast also covers: • infectivity, transmissibility and severity • what we can learn from the SARS and MERS virus and how this can help us • prevention in Australia and what is happening to try and avoid an outbreak like in China • vaccines • what GPs should do if a patient phones concerned they may be infected • masks, PPE and what is appropriate • what GPs can do to protect themselves and their practices Presenters: Dr David Spiers, QEII Network Head of Department, Microbiology, PathWest Professor Paul Effler, Senior Medical Advisor, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Information correct as at 4 February 2020. For up-to-date information in WA, visit: https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus For GPs across Australia, visit: https://www.racgp.org.au/coronavirus
