Officials: Two Iowans being tested for Wuhan coronavirus

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(MGN Image)(KWQC)
Published: Feb. 5, 2020 at 2:44 PM CST
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State health officials have identified two Iowans being tested for Wuhan coronavirus, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The Iowa Department of Public Health said that, following the implementation of enhanced scrutiny for potential coronavirus cases, two Iowans are undergoing testing for 2019-nCoV. The results of the tests will not be made available for several days, according to officials.

The two people are under voluntary home confinement at this time. Dr. Caitlin Pedati, medical director for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said during a question and answer session on the department’s Facebook page that the state would not be providing further information about the location of the two who were tested. This was to balance public needs with patient privacy, and without further steps needed by the public it was deemed unnecessary to share, according to Pedati.

The potential cases were associated with recent travel to China. Officials are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct the testing.

Information from the department's website suggests that the state is monitoring the status of four other individuals who returned from China within the last 14 days, but who are otherwise not showing any symptoms of the virus.

IDPH Medical Director Dr. Caitlin Pedati discusses novel coronavirus in Iowa.

IDPH Medical Director Dr. Caitlin Pedati discusses novel coronavirus in Iowa.

Posted by Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday, February 5, 2020