First American Dies of Coronavirus in China

Sunday, February 09, 2020
GoLocalPDX News Team

CDC, Photo: Fred Murphy

World health organizations are reporting that a United States citizen has died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, China.

It is believed to be the first death of an American from the outbreak. According to CNN, "60-year-old United States citizen had died from the virus at Jinyintian Hospital, in Wuhan, on February 6, according to the US Embassy in Beijing, marking the first confirmed death of a foreigner from the virus."

“Few details about the American, who died on Thursday, were immediately available. The person was around 60 years old and died at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, according to the United States Embassy in Beijing. Two people familiar with the matter said the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions.

‘We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss,” said a spokesman for the embassy. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we have no further comment,’” reports the New York Times.

In addition, a Japanese citizen died in a Wuhan hospital, from what was suspected to be a case of the coronavirus.

A total of 722 people had died from the virus and 34,546 were infected in mainland China by the end of Friday, China's National Health Commission said. The majority of new cases were recorded in Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Authorities finished construction on a new hospital in Wuhan last week, and another is due to open in the coming days to treat the growing number of patients.