Community spread coronavirus cases in the United States make it "much more challenging" in containing the contagion, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the coronavirus task force.
"In other cases it was clear where the infection was coming from and where they got infected," Fauci told Fox News "Fox & Friends" on Sunday.
The community spread cases in the Pacific Northwest force much more intensive contact tracing in addition to quarantining confirmed patients, he added.
"So, this was something that was entirely expected when you have diffuse infections throughout the world – as you've just mentioned, South Korea, Iran, Italy, in places like that – sooner or later there are going to be cases in your country that you can't directly trace to anyone," Fauci said. "That becomes much more challenging about identifying the source."
While admitting it is not as common as the seasonal flu in the U.S., data has shown it to be much more likely to kill a vulnerable person who contracts it, according to Fauci.
"It clearly is much more lethal, if you want to call it that, than the typical seasonal flu," he said, estimating around 2% of those with coronavirus have died from it but admitting it is a far lower percentage for younger, healthier individuals who get it.
Fauci called it a "misrepresentation" of reports he was being "muzzled" by the White House in speaking about the coronavirus.
"I'm not being muzzled," he said, admitting the White House placed a hold on whom can talk to the media about the virus.
Fauci said American people need to get "used to" the number of cases increasingly rapidly, especially as the testing for it becomes more prevalent.
"It's unrealistic to think it's not going to happen," Fauci said. "It is how we handle it that's important."
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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