Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak speaks during a news conference on the state's preparations for the coronavirus Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Associated Press

A local man in his 50s was diagnosed with the illness after traveling to Washington state.

A Las Vegas-area man has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, health officials said Thursday, adding Nevada to the growing list of Western states with cases of the illness.

The man is in his 50s and recently returned from a trip to Washington state, officials said. Washington is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The diagnosis is pending confirmation from tests sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Dr. Fermin Leguen, the acting chief of the Southern Nevada Health District. Leguen called the diagnosis "presumptive," but put it at 95% certain.

The news comes as casino shares had already plummeted amid a broader downturn in the stock market over concerns about the spread of the virus and its effect on the business and tourism.

Conferences and events around the country have been canceled, and travelers are postponing plans due to fears of the virus. The case in Las Vegas, which drew 3.5 million visitors in January, could prompt would-be tourists to cancel their plans.

The transient nature of the city also raises concerns about the spread of the virus. Officials said the man has been hospitalized in an isolation unit, and they are tracking people who had contact with him since his return from Washington.

Leguen said the risk to the public in Las Vegas was low and noted that 200 people in Nevada are currently being monitored. He declined to identify where in the Las Vegas area the man lives.

