DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Iowa Department of Public Health is watching out for coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases in the U-S grows.
"We want people to understand that this is going on, and we want both our providers and individuals to know that if you've traveled to China in the past 14 days and you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing we want to know about that" says Public Health Medical Director Caitlin Pedati.
She says Iowa's lack of direct international air travel to China reduces the coronavirus risk.
"We don't necessarily have those direct flights here, but any time you think about travel that does represent a way for a virus to move" Pedati says.
She says the Department of Public Health still sees the flu as a greater risk in Iowa than coronavirus.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are now five confirmed U.S. cases of coronavirus.