- Ellensburg, WA
Health officials say a student at Central Washington University is being tested for Wuhan coronavirus.
The Kittitas County Health Department said Thursday that the student became ill and may have been exposed to the virus when they recently traveled internationally. The person is voluntarily in isolation, according to a release.Test results were expected within two to three days and the student will remain in isolation until the results are available.
The number of cases of the virus, which has killed at least 213 people, shot up to more than 8,100 in mainland China by Thursday evening.
The U.S. State Department announced a highest-level warning on Thursday not to travel to China due to the recent coronavirus outbreak.
"Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China,"
the Level 4 alert states, noting that the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern earlier that day.
"Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. Commercial carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China," the alert notes. "Those currently in China should consider departing using commercial means."
While the virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, there are now more than 100 cases in 20 other countries and territories spanning Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East. India and the Philippines were the latest countries to confirm the virus had reached their shores.
The first U.S. case of Wuhan coronavirus was in Snohomish County. A man in his 30s contracted the virus while traveling in Wuhan. He was treated at Providence Medical Center in Everett, largely by a robot.
He's still the only confirmed coronavirus case in Washington state as of Jan. 30.
Eighteen people have been tested so far in Washington state. Eight were negative, one was positive, and the results are pending for nine patients.
- Q13/CNN Wire
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