CDC: Confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases rise to 5, general risk remains low

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday confirmed five travel-related U.S. patients tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) with 110 patients across 26 states under investigation. In China, as of today, officials estimate there are more than 2,800 confirmed cases and at least 81 associated deaths. The five U.S. patients — located in Washington state, Illinois, California and Arizona — recently traveled from the Hubei province in China, and CDC said more cases are expected while the risk of transmission to the general public remains low. Five U.S. airports continue to screen and educate travelers with itineraries that include the Wuhan region. CDC is developing a testing kit for state and international labs that should be ready in the next two weeks. For more information and resources, including a Jan. 23 Quality Advisory, visit AHA’s coronavirus update page and CDC’s novel coronavirus website. CDC urges health care providers to follow its interim guidance for evaluating patients and recommendations for infection control and will host a call for clinicians Friday at 2 p.m. ET.