28.02.2020 02:12
First positive case detected in town of Tilburg, say Dutch health officials.
The Netherlands reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus Thursday as its foothold in Europe continues to grow.
In a statement, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said a man who lives in the town of Tilburg had been diagnosed with the virus after traveling to Italy's Lombardy region a few days ago.
The institute said the man was placed in quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading.
Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to more than 45 other countries including the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Italy, France, Russia, Spain and India.
The global death toll is nearly 2,800, and China, where the outbreak originated, is the worst hit, with more than 78,000 cases and over 2,700 fatalities.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency and said the global risk level remains high.
*Writing by Fahri Aksut -