There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Minnesota, but state health department officials say samples from two Minnesotans are being tested by the CDC.
State Health Commissioner Jan Malcom says the symptoms mirror respiratory issues seen in the cold and flu.
"This means it's quite possible many ill people will get tested but turn out not to have novel coronavirus but rather influenza or some other infection. Quite frankly, that's what we would like to see. We'd rather err on the side of caution," she said.
Older adults and those with underlying conditions are the more susceptible.
Chinese officials have placed travel restrictions in the Wuhan region where the virus originated last month. It's not the same virus that led to the SARS outbreak in 2003 or MERS in 2012, but it's in the same family.
Minnesota health officials have issued an alert to providers across the state with current recommendations. There is an on-call system to report potential cases and they're prepared for extra precautions such as keeping patients in isolation.
Dr. Ruth Lynfield, the state epidemiologist and medical director, says there's a lot that's still unknown about the virus.
"There has been person-to-person transmission," she said. "There have been studies looking at family clusters and we do believe there is evidence of this. However, we do not know how easily or sustainably the virus is spread between people."
Anyone who recently traveled to Wuhan China who experiences fever, cough or other acute illness should contact a health provider as soon as possible and provide those travel details.
Officials say we should all maintain the same precautions for cold and flu season: covering your cough into your shoulder, staying home when you're sick and washing hands frequently.