First confirmed Wuhan coronavirus case in North America found in Seattle

First confirmed Wuhan coronavirus case in North America found in Seattle
(Reuters/CBC)
Medical staff at the Jinyintan hospital, where the patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus are being treated, in Wuhan, China.

The first confirmed North American case of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus from China has bee found in Seattle.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the announcement on Tuesday. They say a traveller from China was diagnosed with the virus.

More details are expected to be released from officials following a press conference at 2 p.m. ET.

Six people have died from the deadly outbreak in China’s central city of Wuhan. In total 258 cases had been confirmed in the city by the end of Monday.

The World Health Organization warned the new coronavirus was likely to spread to other parts of China and possibly other countries in the coming days.

Vancouver International Airport says on the direction of the federal health officials, they will taking steps to check passengers.

They said on Twitter they are “implementing messaging on arrivals screens and adding a health screening question to electronic kiosks. Passengers will be reminded to inform a border service officer if they are feeling sick.”

The B.C. CDC says they have no cases or suspected cases within Island Health’s area.

More to come – With files from CBC News.

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