Coronavirus: US flags first possible case of community spread

California patient has no relevant travel history or exposure to another infected person

Last updated: February 27, 2020 | 06:08

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A woman wearing a face mask walks through the Chinatown section of San Francisco, California, U.S., February 26, 2020.

Reuters

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday warned of the possibility of a community spread of the coronavirus in the country after a person who reportedly did not have relevant travel history or exposure to another known patient was infected.

The infection was detected in California, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States to 15, according to the agency.

Community spread is the spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown.