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US Health Officials Urge More Cooperation from China on Virus

Steve Baragona

   WASHINGTON - U.S. health officials are urging China to share more
   information on how the novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan is
   spreading.

   The virus has sickened more than 4,500 people in 18 countries, mostly
   in China. More than 100 have died.

   Chinese experts have reported the virus can spread from patients who
   are not showing symptoms. But U.S. health officials say they are
   withholding judgment.

   "CDC has not been given the opportunity to review that data," said
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield at
   a press conference Tuesday. "The Chinese believe they have that data.
   This is our hope, to be able to review and be more definitive."

   If patients are spreading the virus without showing symptoms, that
   calls for different screening procedures, added National Institute of
   Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Anthony Fauci.

   Fauci said asymptomatic patients are unlikely to have much impact on
   the spread of the disease.

   "In all the history of respiratory borne viruses of any type,
   asymptomatic transmission has never been the driver of outbreaks," he
   said.

   Health officials have identified five cases in the United States and no
   person-to-person transmission so far. Redfield said the risk to
   Americans currently is low, but he expects more cases are coming.

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