Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
First American Case Of Novel Coronavirus Reported In Washington State
By
Sophia Chang
Published Jan 21, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
AHMAD YUSNI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
By
Sophia Chang
Published Jan 21, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Centers for Disease Control announced Tuesday that a man who recently traveled between Wuhan, China and his home in Snohomish County, Washington has been diagnosed with the new strain of novel coronavirus called 2019-nCoV that has sickened hundreds in Asia and killed at least four people.
The man, who was not identified, is in his 30s and was diagnosed with 2019-nCoV after he was hospitalized for pneumonia last week, according to a CDC briefing Tuesday. The patient, currently in good condition, had returned to Seattle-Tacoma airport from Wuhan on January 15. The central Chinese city of Wuhan is where the epidemic began in December.
Last week, the CDC announced its staff would conduct screenings at John F. Kennedy Airport, Los Angeles International and San Francisco International airports of passengers on flights arriving from Wuhan. On Tuesday the CDC will also start screening passengers flying directly or indirectly from Wuhan to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Health officials said Tuesday it appears the virus can be transmitted through a "limited person-to-person spread." At the outset of the epidemic, it was unclear if the virus was only transmittable from animals to humans because some of the original patients had contact with a seafood market in Wuhan.
The patient in Washington State told doctors he did not visit any markets in Wuhan and had not come in contact with other sick people.
Symptoms include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the World Health Organization, which cautions there are still many unknown variables:
Nearly 300 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Chinese cities — aside from Wuhan, cases have appeared in Shanghai, Guangdong, and Beijing. Other cases have appeared in Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Four people have died from the coronavirus, according to the WHO.
The Washington State patient is being treated at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett.
The World Health Organization is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday on whether the 2019-nCoV strain is a global public health emergency, and the CDC said it's activated the Emergency Operations Center.
Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season
As Bat Week begins, state wildlife officials urge New Yorkers to protect bats, which play an important role in the environment.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 6:44 p.m. ET
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
Early voting may have kicked off in New York this weekend, but Serbian immigrants seeking to vote had a much tighter window on Sunday.
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
News
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
Early voting may have kicked off in New York this weekend, but Serbian immigrants seeking to vote had a much tighter window on Sunday.
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail
By
Michael Sol Warren
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
By
Jill Webb
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
By
Samuel King
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .