OFFICIALS are doing Coronavirus tests on 110 patients across 26 US states as five cases are confirmed – and Trump says America is “on watch.”
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed the number of cases of the virus hasn’t increased but they will continue testing 110 potential carriers.
These people have been reportedly confined to hospitals and their own homes in an effort to lesson the chances of contamination as Trump said the US was in “close communication” with China.
There have been 32 people confirmed negative so far but problems arise because only the CDC has tests for coronavirus, so hospitals have to send samples to get individual cases tested.
Five cases were confirmed in Maricopa County in Arizona; Orange County and Los Angeles County, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Snohomish County, Washington as of Monday.
But there was also a sixth suspected case in Philadelphia this week after a Chinese exchange student fell ill but this has yet to be confirmed by federal or state officials.
The CDC confirmed 73 cases were still pending, including those received and those en route to their testing headquarters, on January 27.
Speaking about the epidemic, Trump tweeted: “We are in very close communication with China concerning the virus.
“Very few cases reported in USA, but strongly on watch. We have offered China and President Xi any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary!”
WIDESPREAD CONSEQUENCES
It has emerged the fatal outbreak did stem from the wild animal meat market in Wuhan, where wolf cub meat, rats and bats were on sale.
The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention scientists confirmed tests proved humans caught the virus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market.
According to China’s state-owned Xinhua news agency, the CDC said: “Thirty-one of the 33 positive samples were collected from the western zone of the market, where booths of wildlife trading concentrated.
“The result suggests that the novel coronavirus outbreak is highly relevant to the trading of wild animals.”
Patrons of the gory market were given the option to buy “warm” meat, which means the animal was slaughtered minutes before.
Meanwhile, the outbreak has also affected trading as US stocks plummeted amid the growing health concern.
The New York Times reported stocks linked to the Chinese market or the travel industry were hit hard.
Major companies with links to China’s key role in the global technology supply chain also suffered as a result.
COMPLICATED PROCESS
On Friday, health officials warned flu or other respiratory illnesses may complicate the process of identifying the virus.
Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said they’re working on it.
“The problem with this time of year is it’s cold and flu season and there are lots of cold and respiratory infections circulating,” she said.
Messonnier, said there are a “handful of patients” and the risk to the American public is low.
Cases are still being investigated and monitored in New York, Texas, Tennessee, and California.
PHILLY PATIENT
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said 18 exchange students and three chaperones flew from local airport to Wuhan on January 16.
They took a direct flight from the city, where the coronavirus originated to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
The William Penn Charter School in East Falls says their student’s symptom’s haven’t gotten any worse and they are feeling better.
The school told CBS 3 Philly: “Health officials have informed the school that the exposure time in Wuhan was limited.
“It is important to know that many other common respiratory viruses are circulating in China and here in the United States at this time.
“So the student’s illness is more likely to be caused by one of those viruses.”
ORIGIN
The 2019-nCov strain was first reported in China back in December and is believed to have emerged from the meat market in Wuhan.
As well as the six confirmed cases in the US, the virus has since been confirmed in Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
There are also suspected cases in the Philippines, the UK, Mexico, and Colombia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said they made a mistake and the risk assessment stemming from the virus was higher than they initially reported.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, WHO said the risk was “moderate” rather than “high.”
Spokesperson Fadela Chaib acknowledged the “an error in the wording,” saying it was “incorrect.”
WHO confirmed the risk was “very high in China, high at the regional level and high at the global level” in a report published on Sunday.
Disturbing video has emerged of frantic doctors screaming and crying as the virus continues to spread.
Wuhan has been put lockdown along with several other cities in the province of Hubei as Chinese officials desperately battle the virus.
China’s health minister, Ma Xiaowei, said the country was entering a crucial stage “as it seems like the ability of the virus to spread is getting stronger.”
So far, 81 people have died from the coronavirus, with 2801 infected around the world.
Officials believe the incubation period ranges from between one and 14 days, officials believe, the BBC reports.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Today, Mongolia confirmed it was closing its border with China.
Hong Kong and Malaysia also announced they are preventing the entry of Chinese visitors from the province of Hubei – a virus hotspot.
The news comes as the US consulate announced a charter flight scheduled for Tuesday to evacuate Americans living in Wuhan this week.
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