A new coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”), first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, has caused an outbreak of respiratory illnesses.
While the virus appears to have originated from a food market in Wuhan with transmission from animals to humans, the virus is now being spread from human to human. Over 600 people have been sickened by the virus and as of January 23, 2020, 17 people have died. The virus has spread to other areas of China, as well as, Thailand, Japan, S. Korea and the USA.
(Please note map only shows confirmed cases.)
Several countries, including the United States, have been screening travelers from Wuhan. On January 21
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the CDC raised the travel notice to China from Level 1 (Practice Usual Precautions) to a Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions).
Currently, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading. Coronaviruses also caused the MERS and SARS outbreaks. However, it is still unknown if the 2019-nCoV will be quite as serious. While severe illness, including deaths has been reported in China, other patients diagnosed with 2019-nCoV have experienced milder symptoms and been discharged. While this is a serious public health concern, the CDC has determined, based on current information, that the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low.