Illness Triggers False Report Of Coronavirus At USC

LOS ANGELES, CA — The coronavirus is not circulating at USC, university officials were quick to broadcast Tuesday in an effort to quell misinformation spreading about the deadly new virus.

The school was forced to deny any reports of coronavirus on campus after a false report made on social media Monday claimed a student at the Lorenzo student apartment complex had contracted the virus. The misinformation and the university's efforts to quickly quell the rumors reflect the widespread fear gripping California students as the Chinese outbreak slowly spreads abroad. The first confirmed case in Los Angeles was reported in an LAX traveler over the weekend. In previous outbreaks such as last year's measles outbreak, infections were concentrated at travel hubs such as the airport and, at least twice, spread to universities.

"We want to provide an update to the USC Community because there has been an incorrect report that a student at the Lorenzo, an off-campus housing facility, has contracted the 2019 novel coronavirus," the statement issued about midnight read. "No one affiliated with USC has developed the illness."

Read: 7 Things To Know About Coronavirus In the Southland

About 11:15 p.m. Monday, a reply to a post about the coronavirus on USC's Twitter account claimed a student at The Lorenzo student apartment complex had contracted the virus, prompting the school to respond.

A second statement issued about 12:50 a.m. said a student at The Lorenzo was taken by ambulance to a hospital, but "because of student and patient privacy laws, we are unable to talk about any specific individuals. However, we can confirm that there are no students or residents from the off- campus Lorenzo Apartments diagnosed or under evaluation for the 2019 novel coronavirus. Students can be transported by ambulance for a variety of health conditions."

The statement added "notifications about 2019 novel coronavirus infections occur through local public health authorities and will be communicated to the community."

City News Service contributed to this report.