WASHINGTON —Health officials say a new coronavirus case in California could be the first in the U.S. that has no known connection to travel abroad or another known case, a possible sign the virus is spreading in a community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the case Wednesday night.
California officials said the person is a resident of Solano County and is getting medical care in Sacramento County. An email from UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento said the patient arrived last week but the CDC waited four days before testing for the virus.
"Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected," the CDC said in a statement.
As of Wednesday night, the CDC said there were 60 confirmed cases in the U.S. In addition to the new travel-related case, 12 were travel-related, two were spread person-to-person and 45 were from people repatriated to the U.S. from China or the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The World Health Organization says the number of new cases reported outside China Wednesday exceeded the number of new cases in China for the first time.
Here is a look at the latest information from the virus' spread around the world:
- Japan cancels school through March
- Iran vice president has virus
- Virus reaches Latin America, first case in Brazil
- Hardest-hit China, South Korea count 938 new virus cases
- South Korea, US postpone annual military drills
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