Second U.S. patient tests positive for coronavirus, 63 under investigation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a second person in the U.S. tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The woman in her 60s traveled to the Wuhan, China, region in late December and returned home to Chicago Jan. 13 asymptomatic. She had limited contact and alerted health care providers of symptoms a few days later before going to the hospital, where she is in stable condition and in isolation, as a precaution. Because of the roughly two-week incubation period, CDC is working with the five U.S. airports screening for the virus to hand out information cards to passengers. CDC said 63 U.S. patients are under investigation. The first U.S. case was identified Monday in Washington state, but officials say the risk of transmission to the general public remains low. As of today, there are more than 830 confirmed cases worldwide and at least 26 associated deaths. For more information and resources, including a Jan. 23 Quality Advisory, visit AHA’s coronavirus update page.