California confirms Corona virus Patient In Orange County
Health officials in Southern California have confirmed a third U.S. case of the coronavirus from China.
By Gus Saltonstall, Patch Staff
Jan 26, 2020 7:30 am PT | Updated Jan 26, 2020 7:32 am PT
The other two confirmed U.S. cases of the Corona virus were in Washington state and Chicago

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A patient in Southern California is the third person in the United Sates to be diagnosed with the novel corona virus, health officials announced on Saturday.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the case in a traveler from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the virus.

The patient is in isolation at a hospital and in "good condition," according to a release from the Orange County Health Care Agency. "There is no evidence that person-to-person transmission has occurred in Orange County," according to the agency.

No more information on the identity of the patient has been released.

In California, health screenings of incoming passengers at Los Angeles International and San Francisco International airports have been underway to identify people who have symptoms that could be due to the coronavirus infection.

The first confirmed case of the virus in California comes in the wake of diagnoses in Washington state, on Jan. 21, and Chicago, on Jan. 24. Both patients had also recently traveled to China.

The death toll in China from the virus has risen to 56.

Symptoms of the novel corona virus may include: runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever and a general feeling of being unwell. The virus can also cause wheezing and pneumonia. It is a member of the coronavirus family that's related to the deadly SARS and MERS viruses that have caused wide scale outbreaks in the past.

Anyone experiencing symptoms who had recently traveled to areas of concern, or been in contact with somebody who has traveled to these areas, should call ahead to their health care provider before arriving for treatment.

While there is currently no vaccine for this novel corona virus, you can take preventative actions every day to help stop the spread of this and other respiratory viruses, including:

    Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
    Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
    Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    Stay home when you are sick.
    Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
    Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.