Coronavirus: Evacuee from China quarantined in Texas latest US case of deadly virus

Officials confirm 15th case of Wuhan coronavirus in the US as CDC predicts illness will take a "foothold" in the country

A US evacuee from China has contracted the Wuhan coronavirus in what officials said was the 15th confirmed case nationwide, as thousands of newly-confirmed cases have been reported in recent days of the mysterious illness.

The Centre for Disease Control said in a recent update it was expecting coronavirus to take a “foothold” in the US as hundreds of Americans arrived at military bases in California, Nebraska and Texas for quarantining.

Evacuees from China were all among the latest confirmed cases within the US, as health officials said they were monitoring people with recent histories of having travelled to the country.

The coronavirus, believed to have originated in a market in Wuhan, China, was believed to spread through droplets which infected patients release when coughing or sneezing — much like influenza or other similar illnesses.

Many travellers who recently visited China have gone under voluntary quarantine in their homes, according to Dr Phil Huang, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services.

Mr Huang told CBS his agency was “working with the airport screening activities” and following up with quarantined travellers.

He said: “If there are any persons that have travelled from that area, we’re doing the monitoring and contacting people and checking to make sure they don’t have symptoms – twice a day – and that they don’t have fever.”

The latest infected patient was the third evacuee to test positive, the CDC said a statement while noting that there will likely be additional cases among people recently returned from China.

The US government has flown about 800 people from Hubei province, with 195 people from the first flight having been released on Tuesday.

Many are government employees and their families who are under 14-day quarantine at US military bases.

"The individual is currently isolated and receiving medical care at a designated hospital nearby", the CDC said.

The evacuees at the Lackland military base in Texas arrived in the United States on 7 February.

The fast-spreading virus has killed 1,370 people and infected about 60,000, nearly all in China, constraining the world's second largest economy and handing the ruling Communist Party one of its most difficult tests in years.

Japan confirmed its first coronavirus death, adding to two previous fatalities in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The 15 US cases, spread among seven states, mostly involve travellers who recently returned from China. The two other evacuees to test positive were under quarantine at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, California.

Additional reporting by Reuters