Coronavirus Case Confirmed in Wisconsin

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), UW Hospital and Clinics, the local health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first case of 2019 novel coronavirus in Wisconsin has been confirmed. The immediate health risk to the general public for contracting this virus is low.

According to Wisconsin Hospital Association, 12 people have tested positive for the virus in the country (as of this writing). Six states, including Wisconsin, have confirmed cases; 36 states have patients under investigation. Of the 10 Wisconsin patients under investigation, one test is positive; seven were negative; two are pending.  

Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, which may appear between two to 14 days after someone has been exposed to the virus. Symptoms have ranged from a mild illness like a common cold to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization. 

DHS encourages travelers returning from China or contacts of patients with a confirmed case who become ill to let their health-care providers know of their possible exposure before arriving at the health-care facility.

Updates on the 2019 novel coronavirus are available at dhs.wisconsin.gov.