Brazil Health Ministry confirms first case of new coronavirus

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed the first case of a fast-spreading new coronavirus in Latin America, after a Sao Paulo hospital flagged the possible infection of a 61-year-old man who recently visited Italy.

Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told journalists at a news conference that the government has already taken measures to tackle the epidemic prior to its arrival in Brazil.

(Reporting by Carolina Mandl; Editing by Brad Haynes)