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1st Person-To-Person Spread Of Coronavirus Has Occurred In U.S., CDC Says

Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, speaks during a press conference Tuesday at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, speaks during a press conference Tuesday at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Updated at 1:50 p.m. ET

The first human-to-human transmission of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus has occurred in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.

The respiratory virus was spread from a woman who had recently traveled to China and gave it to her husband when she returned to Chicago, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said at a press briefing.

It's the sixth confirmed case of the new coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, in the U.S.

In addition to Illinois, two other cases have been confirmed in California, one in Arizona, and one in Washington state. Worldwide, the Wuhan coronavirus has spread to at least 20 countries since it was identified last month, the CDC says.

Illinois health officials are currently investigating 21 other possible cases in the state. The CDC says the relatively few people who have been identified as close contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus infections should follow the guidance of their doctors and health departments.

Overall, Redfield noted, "the immediate risk to the American public is low."

The agency is investigating 92 other possible cases around the country. An additional 68 were investigated already and tested negative.

Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illionis Department of Public Health explained that this is person-to-person spread was "between two very close contacts, a wife and a husband." She emphasized that the risk to the public in Illinois remains low. "The virus is not spreading widely across the community," she said.

She notes that Illinois public health officials "are actively monitoring close contacts, including health care workers."

The CDC says members of the public do not need to wear masks out of concern for the coronavirus.

To reduce the chance of spreading any respiratory illness, the CDCrecommends that people take simple steps such as washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick.

People returning from Wuhan and other areas of high-risk in China should be vigilant for signs of illness, including fever and cough, according to the CDC. Those people should call their health care provider if symptoms do develop.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.