Coronavirus: First US citizen in Wuhan dies from virus, reports say

The novel coronavirus has claimed its first U.S. victim, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing confirmed late Friday.

The unidentified victim died Thursday in Wuhan, China – where the outbreak originated – pushing the global death toll above 700, The New York Times reported.

NEW: American dies in Wuhan, China from #coronavirus via @nytimes. Appears to be first death of U.S. citizen from this epidemic that has infected more than 31,000 people and killed more than 700 around the world. https://t.co/9H5bldH5kj
— Ramy Inocencio 英若明 (@RamyInocencio) February 8, 2020

According to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the U.S. citizen was around 60 years old, but little else is known.

The embassy did confirm to CBS News late Friday that the U.S. victim died at Jinyintian Hospital.

UPDATE: U.S. embassy in Beijing to @CBSNews just now. “We can confirm a 60-year old U.S. citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at Jinyintian Hospital in Wuhan, China on February 6. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.” #WuhanCoronavirus @StateDept https://t.co/JuclC0QMD9
— Ramy Inocencio 英若明 (@RamyInocencio) February 8, 2020

A spokesman for the embassy told the Times, “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we have no further comment.”

According to China’s National Health Commission, the virus has claimed 722 lives to date in mainland China and killed one man in Hong Kong and another Chinese man in the Philippines, CNN reported.