Lawmakers question U.S. public health agency about coronavirus threat

Lawmakers are calling for answers from a public health agency about how they are preparing to fight the Coronavirus here in the United States.

At least 17 deaths worldwide have been linked to the virus and the first case was confirmed in the U.S. in Washington state this week.

It has led to travel restrictions and a city in China was placed under quarantine.

Read: Coronavirus: Death toll continues to climb, 6 things you need to know

"I have big concerns,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said.

Brown said the outbreak of the virus points to the need for more funding for agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Human beings are in an arms race if you will with bacteria and viruses,” Brown said. “There is something like this every year. It’s Ebola. It’s tuberculosis. Now it’s the Coronavirus. There will be another thing.”

Read: Coronavirus: OIA addresses deadly virus in China

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts each wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services asking about how the CDC is responding to the threat of the virus.

Scientists are working on developing a vaccine for the virus but it will take some time.

“We should be able to put that vaccine into phase one trial for safety in about three months,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.

Read: Possible case of coronavirus under investigation in Texas, health officials say

Fauci said it would likely not be available for public distribution for another year.

Fauci pointed out while health officials are being vigilant, the risk to Americans is low.

“This is an evolving situation,” Fauci said. “Clearly this is something that we take very, very seriously. So we want to balance taking something very seriously without instilling fear or anxiety in the American public.”

The CDC said it has alerted doctors to be on the lookout for signs of the Coronavirus and said the agency is developing a diagnostic test to be able to detect the virus.

© 2020 Cox Media Group