The spread of the Chinese coronavirus has people around the world concerned that it could lead to a greater pandemic than what it already has become. People coming and going from China are being carefully monitored for even the smallest signs of the virus. A recent case in New York illustrates this as a patient who returned from China has been placed into quarantine for observation on suspicion of the illness, which if he is confirmed to have it would make him the first person in the Big Apple to have it.
New York City health officials announced on Saturday that a patient at Bellevue Hospital Center may have the novel coronavirus. If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of the virus in New York City.
Local authorities are unable to test for the virus so they are sending a sample to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. Based on the patient’s symptoms and travel history from China, they are taking it seriously. This is the first time that city officials have sent a sample to the C.D.C. for testing.
Another reason the health authorities suspect it is the novel coronavirus: They have tested it for influenza and other common illnesses, and those tests came back negative, health officials said.
The health authorities said the individual is under 40 and is in stable condition. They said they do not expect to receive results from the C.D.C. for 36 to 48 hours, or possibly longer.
“An individual with a travel history to China felt unwell and sought help from a medical provider who promptly contacted the Health Department,” said the health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot. (source)