MU cancels some school-sponsored trips to China amid coronavirus concerns
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri announced on Thursday that new school-sponsored trips to China have been canceled as coronavirus continues to spread.
According to the announcement from MU Provost Alexander Cartwright, any trips already approved for faculty, staff and students are now under review.
MU also recommended faculty and staff not to take any trips to China until travel restrictions are lifted. Cartwright said the guidance came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cartwright said no one connected with MU has a confirmed case of coronavirus.
On Thursday, the CDC confirmed a patient contracted the disease from close contact to another person who had coronavirus. According to the release, it's the first time its been spread person-to-person in the US.
The CDC said 2019 novel coronavirus started in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China. The first case was confirmed in December. According to the national agency, 165 cases of coronavirus are under investigation in the US, including at least one confirmed case in Illinois.
The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency on Thursday. Symptoms for coronavirus are similar to flu symptoms.
Some Americans were flown out of China Wednesday as new cases of the deadly disease continue to pop up. About 200 US citizens are being monitored at a California military base.
