Story at a glance
- The couple was taken to a hospital in San Francisco for treatment after they suddenly became much more ill.
- Prior to being admitted into the hospital, they had been self-isolating at their home in San Benito.
- At least six of the 11 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the U.S. have been reported in California.
Health officials are confirming the second person-to-person transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus in the U.S. between a married couple in the Bay Area.
A couple from San Benito County, Calif. was diagnosed with the coronavirus, and is now hospitalized after the two became “suddenly much more ill” on Sunday evening. The husband and wife, both 57 years old, were taken to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, where they have been placed in isolation.
Prior to being hospitalized, the couple had been self-isolating in their home since Jan.24.
The husband recently traveled from Wuhan, China, and the wife did not, making this the second person-to-person transmission in the country. The first person-to-person transmission was confirmed in Chicago, where a woman infected her husband after returning from China.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely to protect the health of San Benito County residents and limit the spread of the virus,” Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, San Benito County Health Officer, said in a statement. “We are working closely with Bay Area health officials, local health care providers and community partners.”
At least 11 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., with six reported in California. Worldwide, more than 20,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, with more than 425 deaths, mostly in China at the epicenter of the outbreak.
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