Suspected Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) case reported in Jalisco tests negative

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Mexico's Epidemiology General Directorate reported a new suspected case of the Novel Coronavirus ( 2019-nCov ) in Tlajomulco de Zuñiga , Jalisco , on Sunday.

Health authorities have confirmed that the 57-year-old man who had been living in Wuhan , China , for 4 years and 5 months and returned to Mexico on January 15 has tested negative to COVID-19 .

The man experienced mild respiratory symptoms one day after his arrival. He is currently stable, isolated at home.

In a statement issued late on Saturday, Mexico’s Health Ministry said one person carrying the new coronavirus strain had visited Mexico City but since left the country, and nobody identified as having been in contact with them has so far shown symptoms.

The authority said it had activated health protocols and informed guests at a hotel and users of an urban transport company about having been potentially exposed 10 days ago.

“An epidemiological investigation is being carried out with the objective of identifying potential contacts that could have been spread,” it said, adding that of those potentially exposed “none has developed symptoms of the disease .”

The new coronavirus strain behind China pneumonia outbreak which probably has its origin in a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan , China , is fuelling global alarm after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) outbreak to be a " public health emergency of international concern " on January 30.

However, the risk of a major health emergency similar to the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak is lower, due to the rapid reaction from the Asian country authorities.

sg