The case was one of three that health officials had announced last month as being under investigation across the state. The previous two also were ruled out as having the highly infectious disease that originated in Wuhan, China, in late January.
The new negative results mean Virginia continues to have no confirmed cases of coronavirus, a new respiratory illness that has rapidly spread, particularly in China, and has left at least 1,000 dead.
Signs of the infection include fever, cough, difficulty breathing and sometimes a sore throat. The risk factors for severe illness are still unclear, but older patients and people with chronic medical conditions may be more vulnerable to contracting it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been 13 confirmed cases in the United States, including seven in California. The country has implemented travel restrictions and increased health screenings on people arriving from China. Travelers to the affected region will be required to enter the United States through specific airports and undergo a quarantine for 14 days following their departure.
The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus a global public health emergency, prompting Eastern Virginia Medical School to host a public event on the disease, called “Coronavirus: Don’t let Misconceptions Eclipse the Truth.” The panel discussion, which will include infectious disease experts and representatives of the local health departments, will meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20 in Lester Hall.
For more information on the event, visit bit.ly/evmscor.
Health experts continue to say the immediate risk to Americans is thought to be low. Still, doctors, hospitals and port and airport staff are on alert. There is no vaccine to ward off infection and no specific treatment for those who are sick, except to manage their symptoms.
Meanwhile, influenza has reached widespread levels across Virginia. State health officials have received 773 reports of pneumonia and influenza-associated deaths during this flu season so far.
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