The World Health Organization declared Thursday the new coronavirus an international public health emergency.
This decision comes as cases are beginning to appear in people who have not traveled to China during the outbreak.
The declaration, officially called a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” helps the international agency mobilize financial and political support to contain the outbreak.
Also Thursday, the first case of a coronavirus person-to-person infection in the United States was confirmed by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The latest infection is the Chicago-based husband of a woman in her 60s who recently returned from Wuhan, China, with the virus. Health officials said Thursday the man recently reported virus-like systems and was placed in isolation. Both are reported to be stable.
Illinois health officials said there are now 21 people in the state under investigation for the virus.
Credit: AJC
CDC director Robert Redfield, who was part of a Thursday closed-door briefing to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, confirmed the infection during a media conference call.
“Given what we’ve seen in China and other countries with the novel coronavirus, CDC experts have expected some person-to-person spread in the US,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “We understand that this may be concerning, but based on what we know now, we still believe the immediate risk to the American public is low.”
»6,000 passengers, crew members held at Italian port over coronavirus fears
CDC is working closely with Illinois health officials and other local partners. A CDC team has been on the ground since the first 2019-nCoV-positive case was identified and is supporting an ongoing investigation to determine whether further spread with this virus has occurred.
More international airlines continue to suspend flights to China as fears spread about the new virus’ outbreak, including British Airways, Lion Air, Seoul Air, Finnair, Cathay Pacific and Jetstar Asia.
On Thursday, thousands of passengers aboard an Italian cruise ship were being blocked from disembarking in a port town north of Rome on Thursday over fears that a passenger might have contracted the coronavirus that has sickened more than 7,700 people in mainland China and killed at least 170.
Countries began evacuating their citizens Wednesday from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS.
»MORE: CDC expands coronavirus screening to 15 more U.S. airports
The CDC also has increased the number of American airports screening for the deadly Wuhan coronavirus to 20. Previously, only five airports — including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International — were screening for the disease, which has killed more than 100 people worldwide. The airports adding screenings have not been identified by the CDC.
»MORE: Map tracks coronavirus in real time
U.S. health officials expanded their recommendation for people to avoid non-essential travel to any part of China, rather than just Wuhan and other areas most affected by the outbreak.
Experts worry that the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. It is from the coronavirus family, which also can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as SARS.
On Thursday, the Russian news agency TASS reported the nation has closed its Far Eastern border to prevent the virus’ spread.
The virus is thought to have spread to people from wild animals sold at a Wuhan market. China on Sunday banned trade in wild animals and urged people to stop eating meat from them.
About the Authors
