Deadly virus from China spreads to US, CDC says. Five things to know about coronavirus

A coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, has spread to the United States, with one case reported in Washington state, The New York Times reports.

The respiratory disease has infected hundreds and killed six in China, USA Today reported.

A man in his 30s with the virus is in stable condition at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, The Washington Post reported.

The man had recently returned to Washington from Wuhan but had not visited any of the outdoor animal markets where the virus originated, CNN reported. He returned before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began screening passengers at several airports for the virus.

The Washington Department of Health identified the man as a Snohomish County resident in a press release.

“No one wants to be the first in the nation in these types of situations, but these are the types of situations that public health and its partners train and prepare for,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Snohomish County health officer. “Because of this, everything has been going along quite smoothly.”

The county is working with state and federal health officials to identify people who may have been in contact with the man since his Jan. 15 return to the United States, the release says.

What is the 2019 Novel Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are “mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses,” with cold-like symptoms, according to the CDC.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and health officials believe that it spread from animals to humans at a marketplace, according to NPR.

In Latin, corona means crown or halo. Under a microscope, the viruses resemble crowns or halos, the Associated Press says.

How widespread is the outbreak?

Chinese officials report that six people have died from the virus as of Tuesday afternoon, according to The Washington Post.

Around 300 people have been infected in China so far, and countries, including the U.S., have started screening travelers from Wuhan, according to the CDC. The virus has gotten attention for being compared to SARS, another coronavirus that originated in China and killed at least 700 people during the 2002-2003 outbreak, according to the CDC.

How does it spread?

Health experts in China have confirmed that the virus can be spread between humans, CNN reported.

People have been infected in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, according to The New York Times. The virus has already spread to Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea.

Zhong Nanshan, an expert appointed by China’s National Health Commission, said that at least two cases were spread from person to person, according to CNN.

In order to help contain the spread of the virus, Wuhan announced the cancellation of its Lunar New Year celebrations, CNN reported.

To prevent transmission, the CDC recommends avoiding contact with people who are sick, washing hands with water and soap for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose with unwashed hands.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of coronaviruses range from those similar to a common cold to symptoms such as fever, cough and “shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia” in severe cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms of the Novel Coronavirus include trouble breathing, cough and a fever, CNBC reports.

How is it treated?

Since it’s a virus, it can’t be treated with antibiotics, The Washington Post reports.

Health officials in the United States are working on a vaccine for the virus, but it will take more than a year for it to be available, CNN reports.

Passengers flying into airports that are popular among Chinese travelers will be screened for the virus, U.S. authorities reported Friday, according to The Washington Post.

The CDC began screening travelers at airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City on Friday. On Tueday, the agency announced passengers in Chicago and Atlanta also will be screened, according to The Chicago Tribune.

This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Deadly virus from China spreads to US, CDC says. Five things to know about coronavirus."