Hundreds of cases of the coronavirus have been reported and the World Health Organization (WHO) is considering the outbreak "a high risk, regionally and globally." The coronavirus can cause a range of illnesses from the common cold to severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The outbreak originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and while most reported cases so far have been in China, others have been reported in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the US.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are similar to that of a bad cold or the flu. They include:
More severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. The incubation period is around two weeks.
If you have any questions please contact your Mercer Marsh Benefits Client Executive.