Passengers Screened For Deadly Coronavirus At Logan Airport

BOSTON — Passengers landing at Logan Airport on a flight from Hong Kong were screened for a fast-spreading virus that has global health officials scrambling to contain it. The Massachusetts Port Authority said local first reponders and a nurse who was in contact with the Centers for Disease Control evaluated passengers who arrived on a Cathay Pacific flight Wednesday night. None of the people showed any symptoms.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Massport Fire Rescue, in coordination with local and federal partners, did additional screening for a number of passengers on the arriving Cathay Pacific flight," a Massport spokesperson said. "None had any symptoms and continued on their trip."

State health officials have said the risk for coronavirus in Massachusetts is "currently low."

The coronavirus is flu-like and has killed at least 17 people and infected more than 500 worldwide. One case has been confirmed in the United States — a man in his 30s in Washington.

The World Health Organization is expected to meet Thursday to discuss deeming the virus an international public health emergency. The virus is thought to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Health officials have started screenings at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Screenings will soon begin in Atlanta and Chicago. Passengers at Logan generally aren't being screened in the same manner — except for Wednesday night — because there are no direct flights from the Wuhan area.