While Donald Trump has just declared a “state of emergency”, American scientists have found and studied the first case of transmission of Covid-19 in the United States.
- A 60-year-old returning from China infected her husband in January 2020
- The couple recovered from the disease
- The analysis of this case of transmission confirms the relevance of the preventive measures
1,800 people have the coronavirus and 49 people have died from it in the United States, according to the latest counts. US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in the country on Friday March 13 in order to release 45 billion euros to stem the spread of the virus. In The Lancetresearchers trace the first case of transmission of the disease on American soil.
A 60-year-old returning from Wuhan
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on January 23, 2020 in the United States. It was a sexagenarian returning from Wuhan, China, where the epidemic started at the end of 2019. She had gone there at the end of December to see her family, and one of her relatives was hospitalized. When she returned in mid-January, she felt a slight fever, fatigue and a cough for six days. She will then be hospitalized before being diagnosed with COVID-19.
This woman lived with her husband, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Eight days after his wife was hospitalized, he was also admitted to a health facility with breathing difficulties and a bloody cough. Doctors find that he too is suffering from COVID-19. The two patients were treated and were able to return to their homes, where they remained in quarantine.
No contamination in the couple’s entourage
The American health authorities have investigated the entourage of these two people to ensure that there were no other cases. A total of 372 people have potentially been in contact with the couple. None of them would have contracted the virus. “This study suggests that the transmission of COVID-19 from one person to another is more likely during prolonged and unprotected contact with an infected person”, analyzes Jennifer Layden, who co-directed the research.
There might be some limitations to these results, however, as the only people tested are those who had pre-defined symptoms: fever, cough or difficulty breathing. However, research has shown that some people develop “mild” symptoms such as a sore throat or a cold or are asymptomatic. The study nevertheless reinforces the need to take precautionary measures for people in contact with sick people: regular hand cleaning and wearing a mask, and for infected people, to avoid any social interaction.
A third of the population contaminated?
The United States today would only be at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the American media, Axiosa doctor attached to the United States Congress says that between 70 and 150 million people are expected to be affected by the coronavirus, or a third of the population.
NEW #COVID19—First known person-to-person SARS-CoV-2 transmission in USA occurred between 2 people with prolonged, unprotected exposure when 1st patient was symptomatic. No further transmission detected in 372 contacts of both cases https://t.co/tF0htFQrAn pic.twitter.com/3shqCuoMpZ
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) March 12, 2020
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