An nameless computer virus has struck dozens of the great unwashed in Wuhan , the most populous city in Central China .
At least 59 cases have been confirmed so far , including seven patients who are critically ill , according to theWuhan Municipal Health Committee . A further 163 people are also under medical observation after come into near contact with the septic multitude .
Hong Kong dominance have activated a “ serious response ” degree in chemical reaction to eight possible fount of an unwellness they believe to be consort with visitors from the mainland Chinese metropolis , reports theAssociated Press .
All of the patients have fallen sick with pneumonia or severe respiratory tract infections , with many experiencing fever and breathing difficulty , although the source of the unwellness is not yet lie with .
There was speculation that the outbreak could be relate to SARS , the respiratory unwellness that start in China in 2002 and went on to pop over 700 people around the earth . However , local health authority have since ruled this out . They have also excluded the possibleness of regular influenza , avian flu , adenoviruses , and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) .
The former case was reported on December 12 , 2019 , and the numeral of patient role is go forward to originate . Many of the sick piece of work at South China Seafood City market in Wuhan , which has been closed for sanitization and disinfection since January 1 . Along with fish and seafood , the large wholesale market is also said to sell groundless animal , such as rabbit and pheasants .
“ Citizens should give attention to maintaining indoor zephyr circulation , void shut and airless public position and crowded piazza , and wear masquerade party if necessary , ” Wuhan wellness authorities said in astatement .
accord to theWorld Health Organization , the impregnable link to the market place suggests that the illness is due to a computer virus that spread between fauna and humans . This is what ’s have a go at it asa zoonotic diseaseand admit most human infectious diseases , from swine flu and salmonella to Ebola and HIV .
So far , local wellness authorities say lab tests have shown there ’s no grounds of important human - to - human transmission and no wellness precaution doer infection have been report .
However , the head of the University of Hong Kong ’s Centre for Infection , Ho Pak - leung , hasthrown incertitude on this claimby articulate it ’s “ highly possible ” that the illness is spread from human to human . He also warned that there could be a rush in case during the upcoming Chinese New Year on January 25 .
“ It is highly unbelievable that this will lead to a major 2003 - comparable epidemic , though we can not be complacent , ” said Yuen Kwok - yung , a microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong , according toTIME .
