The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert on 16 January and governments across Central America have been quick to implement preventative and precautionary measures. Epidemiological surveillance systems are in place at airports as well as land and sea border crossings. Staff at these entry points have undergone training on the virus. Respiratory viruses, including influenza, are being monitored. Nicaragua will monitor those arriving from countries with confirmed cases of the virus for seven days to observe any respiratory irregularities. The long incubation period of the virus creates difficulties in accurately tracking its spread. There have been reports of Coronavirus scares in Ecuador, Guyana, Colombia, and Mexico, but at the time of writing no cases have been confirmed in Latin America or the Caribbean. Of five confirmed cases in the US so far, none have been fatal.

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