The Arkansas Department of Health is investigating a possible case of coronavirus within the state, according to a report from KTHV in Little Rock.
The patient in question traveled to China and returned with symptoms consistent with the symptoms of the coronavirus.
While there have not been any confirmed human-to-human transmission cases in the United States, the subject is being isolated. Coronavirus is currently being suspected as being transmissible through respiratory contact, such as a sneeze or a cough.
The U.S. government has evacuated a minimum of 195 Americans out of Wuhan, China, the city where the coronavirus outbreak began, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
In Oklahoma, state health officials announced Monday that two individuals were suspected of having the coronavirus, and that tests would be conducted to determine the results. On Wednesday, Oklahoma state health officials said they were still awaiting test results to come back from the CDC in Atlanta.
“Even if a case of novel coronavirus in an Oklahoma resident, it is important to note the risk to the general public is low,” health officials told KOCO 5 in Oklahoma City. “Public health officials identify possible contacts to a person under investigation and notify them to assess their exposure risk.”
According to the Texas Tribune, all four suspected cases of the coronavirus in Texas came back negative. The only confirmed cases in the United States have been in Washington, California, Arizona, and Illinois. U.S. health officials believe the risk to the general public is low, even though more cases are expected.