(Bloomberg) -- A man who fell ill in Mexico on Monday following a recent trip to Wuhan, China, is under observation as a potential case of the coronavirus, the respiratory virus has killed at least 17 people worldwide, Mexican authorities said.

The 57-year-old molecular biology professor works for the Instituto Politecnico Nacional university in the city of Reynosa, which borders with the U.S. The man returned to Mexico on Jan. 10 through a Mexico City airport and then flew to the state of Tamaulipas.

Tamaulipas State Health Minister Gloria Molina said in a radio interview that the man immediately reported his situation to authorities after feeling sick. He is now in his home under monitoring to prevent any potential contagion.

Link: China Seeks to Contain Virus as Death Toll Jumps to 17

Earlier on Wednesday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that a second possible case in Mexico had been ruled out.

Mexico City airport authorities said late Tuesday that they were expecting indications from international and local health authorities on how to deal with passengers showing potential symptoms.

The World Health Organization is expected to announce later Wednesday whether the outbreak counts as a global public health emergency, a declaration that can come with recommendations for restricting travel and trade, to stop the spread of disease.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cyntia Barrera Diaz in Mexico City at cbarrerad@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ney Hayashi at ncruz4@bloomberg.net, Drew Armstrong, Matthew Bristow

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