Coronavirus outbreak – 12 cases of China virus confirmed in US as Wisconsin victim is put in isolation

ANOTHER case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in the U.S. — this time in Wisconsin, where a patient remains in isolation. The virus was confirmed in Madison by state health officials today in someone who traveled to China within the past two weeks. The patient showed up at UW Health University Hospital with flu-like […]

ANOTHER case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in the U.S. — this time in Wisconsin, where a patient remains in isolation.

The virus was confirmed in Madison by state health officials today in someone who traveled to China within the past two weeks.

EPA

People wearing masks in public as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rises to 12[/caption]

The patient showed up at UW Health University Hospital with flu-like symptoms but wasn’t admitted to the hospital, according to WITI-TV.

The person was placed on “home isolation” and tested positive for the virus today, however the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said: “The immediate health risk to the general public for contracting this virus is low.”

The infected patient has a history “of travel to Beijing, China” and “was exposed to known cases while in China.”

Right now, the patient is “doing well,” health officials said.

Wisconsin’s case is the first positive in the state and the 12th in the country, after a couple in central California was sickened with the virus after the husband traveled to Wuhan, China.

Six cases have been confirmed in California, where officials have begun to quarantine those who have had contact with victims for two weeks.

In total, 12 cases have been confirmed, including one in Massachusetts, two in Illinois, one in Washington state and one in Arizona.

The White House has issued a public health emergency which will see some citizens quarantined and foreign travelers denied entry to the U.S. as more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed.

Rex Features

The virus has so far infected more than 24,000 people and killed nearly 500[/caption]

Rex Features

Volunteers pictured disinfecting a train station in Changsha in the Hunan province of China[/caption]

The new procedures ban foreign nationals who’ve traveled to China within the last two weeks from entering the U.S.

Citizens who’ve visited the Hubei province that’s considered the virus’ epicenter are set to be quarantined.

This is to ensure “they’re provided proper medical care and health screening,” according to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.

Two planes carrying 350 American evacuees from Wuhan landed in California today, where they will remain in quarantine.

All evacuees were screened for the coronavirus before boarding in Wuhan, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. They will also be screened after landing.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency last week.

The virus — believed to have originated in bats — has so far infected more than 24,000 people and killed nearly 500.

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