Recent news announced that the second case of Asian coronavirus has been confirmed on U.S. soil. The virus was confirmed positive in a 60-year-old woman in a Chicago hospital.
Fortunately, the patient is in a stable condition and in isolation at a hospital. On Jan. 13, the patient returned to Chicago from Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak. Health authorities believe there should be a concern about the possibility that she may have spread the coronavirus to others during her travels.
As of 3:44 p.m. CST, 15 more people have died from the virus in China in addition to the first 26 reported this morning. There are 63 potential cases in 22 states of the U.S., 11 of which have been found negative.
France has also recently confirmed two positive cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, one in Paris and one in Bordeaux.
Coronaviruses are part of a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses as minor as the common cold all the way to the severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Most coronaviruses are not dangerous. However, some can be serious and produce symptoms such as running nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Severe respiratory infections can occur and may be fatal.
At this time, there is a low immediate health risk to the public in the U.S., but general precautions should be taken.
