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