1:32 p.m. ET, February 7, 2020
Here's a look at who the CDC has investigated for coronavirus
From CNN's Michael Nedelman
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
About one in six people under investigation for Wuhan coronavirus in the United States have had “close contact” with someone confirmed to have been infected, according to a report released today by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 11% had contact with another person under investigation had not yet been confirmed to have the virus. The majority, about 70%, had only travel-related risk. Of them, most had traveled to Wuhan, versus other parts of China.
The numbers come from 210 people who were under investigation from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31, when CDC updated its guidelines. All of the people were symptomatic — typically with fever and respiratory symptoms — and thus tested for the virus.
Here are some more numbers from the report:
- Only six people were identified through airport screenings, and 85% were identified in health care settings such as hospital emergency departments. Another 26, or 12%, came from contact tracing.
- The median age was 29, and 55% were men. People under investigation have included 17 health care workers and at least 48 college students.
- Most people under investigation have been found to not have the virus. During the period of the new report, only 11 had tested positive.
The CDC says these numbers are likely to change. "Because person-to-person transmission is expected to continue, and as further travel restrictions are implemented, it is likely that the proportion of [people under investigation] with such contact risk in the United States will increase,” the report says.
On Friday, the CDC posted its latest total of people under investigation since January 21: A total of 337 people in 36 states.
This includes 12 who have tested positive, 225 negative and 100 are still pending.