KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With five confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, Missouri officials on Monday said they continue to be vigilant, though no cases have been identified in the state.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said that one patient was under investigation for the novel coronavirus, which causes symptoms similar to influenza, but the patient ultimately tested negative.
“While we have no identified cases in Missouri, we will continue to be vigilant in our surveillance while tracking and monitoring national cases,” DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams said in a news release. “I met with (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) officials and other state health directors on Thursday and participated in a conference call on Sunday for a briefing from Washington state health officials where the first patient was identified. We and the CDC are prepared to help any patients who might present here and we encourage all providers and patients to maintain situational awareness.”
The respiratory virus originated in Wuhan, China, where dozens of people have died. Five cases have been confirmed in Washington, Illinois, Arizona and California, and there are currently more than 100 active investigations across the U.S.
Missouri public health agencies at the state and local levels are working with health care providers across the state to ensure that anyone at risk for coronavirus receive testing. Those who may need testing include people who have been to Wuhan within the past two weeks and have developed either a fever or a cough, or those with difficulty breathing.
Anyone who has been to Wuhan and needs to be tested should call ahead before visiting a doctor or emergency room with information about their symptoms.
Travelers flying or being rerouted to major airports in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta from China should expect enhanced screenings.
For more details, the DHSS has created a website with information about coronavirus from the CDC.
