(Cincinnati) - There are no cases of the Chinese-borne coronavirus in Ohio right now, but the Ohio Department of Health is getting prepared in case it spreads.
Heath Director Dr. Amy Acton has elevated the illness to Class A Status, meaning it's an immediately reportable disease. All confirmed or suspected cases of the illness within state lines now must be reported to health departments as soon as possible.
A second person in America has been diagnosed with the illness. The 60-year-old woman is in Chicago and in good health, but in the hospital to stop the illness from spreading.
The virus is comparable to pneumonia and has killed at least 26 people so far, including a young healthy man. Before that most people who died were elderly.
Cases have also been confirmed in Europe and other Asian countries.