Sick Passenger Sent To Hospital After Arriving At LAX By Coronavirus Screeners
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A passenger who arrived at LAX Wednesday night was sent to a hospital for evaluation by authorities on alert for anyone who might be sick with coronavirus.
And on Thursday night, health officials in Alameda County confirmed that they were investigating a number of possible cases of Wuhan coronavirus.
Los Angeles International Airport remains on alert for anyone who may have coronavirus, which has been linked to 17 deaths amid an outbreak in the Wuhan area of China. A Washington state resident who recently traveled to Wuhan is the first confirmed case in the U.S., but LAX has not seen any confirmed cases as of Thursday evening.
The passenger who was sent to the hospital appeared to be sick after arriving on an American Airlines flight from Mexico City before 7 p.m. Wednesday. It's not clear if the passenger originated from Mexico City, or another city.
Officials have not released whether the passenger was diagnosed. American Airlines provided CBS2 with the following statement Thursday:
"A passenger on American Airlines flight 2546 from Mexico City received medical attention at LAX upon arrival and was transported to a local medical center for precautionary reasons. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority. We are in close contact with the US Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials and will coordinate with them on any required health and safety related measures."
Airports across the globe, including LAX, are taking precautions to prevent the spread of the deadly outbreak.
Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough and trouble breathing, and can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure and death.
