First Case in United States Reported of Deadly Wuhan Virus
The deadly virus that has China on high alert has now made its way to the United States. A man in Washington state has now been diagnosed with the mysterious virus that began last month in China. The illness has killed at least six people and sickened hundreds more, according to U.S. officials.
The Wuhan Virus has most confirmed illnesses in Wuhan, yet cases have been reported in other cities in China, as well as Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The man, in his 30s, is in stable condition at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington and is reported to have traveled recently traveled to Wuhan, China.
This particular virus is part of the Coronaviruses family of viruses. These are viruses. ranging from the common cold to much more serious diseases, can infect both humans and animals, according to the World Health Organization. This virus in China is a strain related to two other Coronaviruses that have caused major outbreaks in recent years MERS and SARS.
Passengers traveling from China are being screened upon arrival at J.F.K. Airport in New York, as well as at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Officials will begin forcing all passengers that originate in Wuhan to go to one of those five airports if they wish to enter the U.S.
Authorities initially believed that every confirmed case was linked to the seafood market in Wuhan. Symptoms of the virus include respiratory problems, difficulties breathing, fever and cough, and can lead to severe cases of pneumonia, kidney failure, acute respiratory syndrome (when fluid builds up in the lungs), and even death. On Monday, a Chinese government epidemiologist said there was evidence the virus could be transmitted from human to human.