A U.S. Navy sailor in Italy – one of the most contaminated regions in the world – has tested positive for coronavirus Friday, the first U.S. service member in Europe, CNN reported.
The sailor is stationed in Naples, Italy, is quarantined to their residence, along with those who had been in contact, according to a statement by U.S. European Command and US Naval Forces Europe-Africa.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Italy are treating the patient and a "thorough contact investigation" is being conducted, according to the report.
A U.S. soldier in South Korea, a 23-year-old man, was the first service member to have contracted the virus. The U.S. was forced to cancel joint military exercises with Israel and South Korea.
The latest tally of coronavirus cases includes 80 countries and territories, killing more than 3,500, the vast majority in China, according to the report.
Italy has reported the next most cases in any country outside of Asia, with over 4,600 infected and 197 deaths reported.
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.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.