BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The World Health Organization declared a global emergency Thursday in the wake of the deadly coronavirus spreading to places outside of China.
The virus has spread to at least 18 countries, including the United States. Seven of those countries "had no history of travel in China," according to the World Health Organization.
In China, at least 170 people have died from the virus. There are more than 7,700 confirmed cases, and more than 12,000 suspected cases in China.
The World Health Organization said that "China quickly identified the virus and shared its sequence, so that other countries could diagnose it quickly and protect themselves, which has resulted in the rapid development of diagnostic tools."
Health officials are now trying to curb the spread of the virus, including in Massachusetts. Increased screening procedures have been ordered at Boston Logan International Airport as flights from China continue to land there.
The CDC is expected to ask passengers traveling from China to fill out questionnaire's and have their temperatures taken upon arrival. Anyone who shows any symptoms will be sent to the hospital.
Many airport workers are wearing surgical masks as precaution.
WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports
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