California Coronavirus Case Confirmed in Patient Who Traveled to Orange County From Wuhan

Officials in California confirmed that a person in Orange County, California, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The individual had traveled from Wuhan in China, where the coronavirus outbreak was first detected. They tested positive for the virus, which is believed to have killed at least 56 people and spread around the world.

The Orange County Health Care Agencies (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division said they received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the latest case.

The HCA said the person had been provided guidance since his arrival in the U.S. in order to reduce exposure to the public while awaiting laboratory confirmation from the CDC.

"The individual has now been transported to a local hospital and is in isolation in good condition," the HCA added.

The department said they are now following up with all individuals who came into close contact with the patient after they arrived from Wuhan. These people are at risk of infection.

There is no evidence that there has been person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus in Orange County.

Under CDC's guidance, anyone who may have come into casual contact with the infected person, such as at a grocery store or in a movie theater, is at minimal risk of developing an infection. Officials added that the current risk of local transmission remains low.

It is unclear when the infected person arrived in Orange County from China. The HCA has been contacted for further details.

This is the third confirmed case of the coronavirus in the U.S. The first case involved someone who arrived in Washington state from Wuhan on January 15.

A second person who had traveled from the city in China to Chicago, Illinois, on January 13 was also confirmed to have been infected with the respiratory illness.

"The patient has limited close contacts, all of whom are currently well and who will be monitored for symptoms. Since returning from China, the patient has had very limited movement outside the home," the CDC added.

Officials said they still consider the risk of an immediate health risk to the general American public to be low at this time.

Cases of the coronavirus have also been confirmed in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and France.

Those infected with coronavirus display respiratory symptoms including fever, a cough, and shortness of breath.

There is no vaccine for the virus and officials say the best way to prevent infection is simply to avoid being exposed to it.

The CDC's advice to avoid respiratory viruses includes frequently washing your hands with soap and water, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze, and cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces that you regularly come into contact with.