The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the third case of coronavirus to arrive to the U.S. from China, where the outbreak began.
The third case of coronavirus was identified in Orange County, California. The CDC confirmed the diagnosis to the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA), which disclosed the news Saturday night in a press statement.
The new patient, who has not been indentified, had reportedly traveled from Wuhan, China where the viral outbreak first started and has rapidly worsened.
The latest patient had been in contact with the HCA while awaiting CDC laboratory confirmation. Upon confirmation, that patient was hospitalized and isolated and the HCA described them as being “in good condition.”
The first U.S. coronavirus case was confirmed on Tuesday for a male in his 30s who returned from travel in Wuhan to Snohomish County, Wash. That patient was also isolated and reported to be “very healthy.”
A second confirmed case of coronavirus was reported by the CDC on Friday for a Chicago woman who had also travelled through Wuhan in recent weeks.
Health professionals have been on the lookout for additional cases and have reportedly monitored as many as 43 people who had close contact with the first U.S. coronavirus patient before the case was confirmed.
“In consultation with the CDC and the California Department of Public Health, the HCA is following up directly with all individuals who have had close contact with the case and are at risk of infection,” the HCA statement revealed with the latest case.
The health officials said they are monitoring those who had close contact with the patient. CDC guidance informed the HCA that those who have had more casual, passing contact with someone with the coronavirus are believed to be at “minimal risk of developing infection.”
The HCA further believes no instances of person-to-person infection have occurred in Orange County and that the risk of local transmission is also low.
In China, at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, 41 people have died and more than 1,300 cases have been confirmed as the virus has spread rapidly. The Chinese government has warned of the virus’ accelerating effect, which Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping called a “grave situation.”
Chinese authorities have added travel restrictions over some 17 cities around the epicenter of the viral outbreak, placing around 56 million people in lock down while it tries to stop the virus from spreading.
Cases of coronavirus have also spread to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Three cases had been reported in France as of Saturday.
