A new task force has been formed to advise President Donald Trump on the globally spreading Wuhan coronavirus that includes the head of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The task force was announced Monday night by White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar is leading the task force, which also included CDC Director Robert Redfield; National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien; the National Institutes of Health’s Anthony Fauci; and other administration officials.
Credit: Susan Walsh
Credit: Susan Walsh
On Thursday, House lawmakers will receive a closed-door briefing on the disease, which has killed more than 170 people in China and infected thousands worldwide. The briefing is open to all members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including U.S. Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter, a Republican who represents Georgia's first congressional district.
Redfield will be among those who will conduct the briefing.
More international airlines continue to suspend flights to China as fears spread about the new virus’ outbreak, including British Airways, Lion Air, Seoul Air, Finnair, Cathay Pacific and Jetstar Asia.
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Countries began evacuating their citizens Wednesday from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS.
The CDC also has increased the number of American airports screening for the deadly Wuhan coronavirus to 20. Previously, only five airports — including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International — were screening for the disease, which has killed more than 100 people worldwide. The airports adding screenings have not been identified by the CDC.
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U.S. health officials expanded their recommendation for people to avoid non-essential travel to any part of China, rather than just Wuhan and other areas most affected by the outbreak.
Experts worry that the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. It is from the coronavirus family, which also can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as SARS.
On Thursday, the Russian news agency TASS reported the nation has closed its Far Eastern border to prevent the virus’ spread.
The virus is thought to have spread to people from wild animals sold at a Wuhan market. China on Sunday banned trade in wild animals and urged people to stop eating meat from them.
