Chinese authorities reported on Sunday 59 people suffering from mysterious pneumonia of unknown origin, however denied that it was SARS, a viral disease responsible for hundreds of deaths in 2003.
"All of the patients have been quarantined," said the Wuhan Municipal Hygiene and Health Commission (center), where the epidemic started a few days ago.
Seven seriously ill
The latest official report shows 59 infected people, among whom the disease broke out between 12 and 29 December, including seven seriously affected, the others being in a stable state. "No patient has died yet," said the commission.
The health authorities' investigation determined that several patients are sellers from a market in Wuhan specializing in the wholesale of seafood and fish.
SARS excluded
"With regard to the pathogen (...) accused, we have excluded several hypotheses, in particular the fact that it is a flu, an avian flu, an adenovirus, respiratory syndrome severe acute (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), "said the commission.
The outbreak of this epidemic has rekindled in recent days among many Wuhan residents the fear that it was SARS, which hit the Chinese hard in 2003. This highly contagious respiratory disease had at the time gained Many countries. The pandemic had killed nearly 800 people, most of them on Chinese territory.
Towards animal responsibility?
The Wuhan Municipal Hygiene and Health Commission said that an investigation was still underway to find the origin of the disease, noting that no human-to-human transmission was caused. 'time was noted. The municipality took several measures, ordering in particular the closure of the market concerned, where disinfection operations and analyzes were carried out.
"The link reported with a wholesale market for fish and live animals may indicate a link with exposure to animals," the World Health Organization (WHO) responded on Sunday.
"The symptoms reported in patients are common to several respiratory diseases and pneumonia is common in winter," she notes, but the concentration of cases encourages "caution". The WHO is however ruling for the moment against any travel or trade restrictions targeting China.
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