The first reported case of person-to-person transmission of coronavirus in the United States was confirmed earlier today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The patient is married to a Chicago woman who contracted the virus in Wuhan, China, a city of 11.2 million people, where the outbreak began.
Per Fox News:
Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, said the health agency had expected to identify “some” person-to-person spread in the U.S., and insisted that the risk to the American public “remains low.” Officials stressed that the husband, who is in his 60s and has underlying health issues, and his wife had continued close contact while she was symptomatic, exposing him to the virus.
Both patients remain hospitalized and the man is stable. The woman, who is also in her 60s and was the first travel-related case confirmed in Illinois, is said to be “doing well.”
Officials said an investigative team is continuing to look into potential contacts of the couple.
Health officials in Canada previously reported a similar instance in a couple who were diagnosed with the coronavirus after they returned from a trip to Wuhan. The Ontario Ministry of Health said the man, who is in his 50s, reported fever and respiratory symptoms and was placed in isolation. Days later, the wife also tested positive for the virus.
The Chinese government estimates coronavirus has sickened 7,700 people thus far, but factors like the virus’ incubation period make that challenging to confirm. Millions of people in China remain under quarantine.
Officials stress that anyone who recently traveled to China should vigilantly monitor their health and report any symptoms. The CDC strongly discourages any non-essential travel to China.
More information for travelers is available here.
AAN Staff
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