- The first human infected with the virus, which the WHO so far calls 2019-nCoV, was discovered in late December in the Chinese electric millionaire city of Wuhan.
- To date, at least 17 people have died and more than 600 have been infected. Symptoms include: fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
- The virus has been traced to a market in Wuhan, and massive efforts are now underway to stop the spread. Residents are encouraged to stay home and avoid crowds. Visitors to stay away.
- Large parts of public transport have been closed and air and train services to and from Wuhan have been restricted. In the past, special control stations have been set up at railway stations, airports and the highway. At the stations, people are scanned to find out if they have a fever. Police are also sampling animal transport on their way into the city.
- The residents of nearby Huanggang are also urged not to leave their city without special reasons.
- Corona virus is a fairly large family of virus, including the disease SARS, which also affects the respiratory tract. Sars became aware in the early 2000s when an epidemic broke out in China and spread throughout the world. That outbreak required around 750 people's lives. So far, only six types of coronavirus have infected people. The Wuhan virus becomes seventh.
- Researchers see it as most likely that animals are the primary source of infection for the virus, but it also infects humans. People are encouraged to avoid unprotected contact with animals, make sure to cook meat and eggs properly, and avoid close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.
- Countries beyond China where cases have been found are according to BBC Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and the United States. Singapore and Vietnam should also have noted cases.
Sources: AP, Reuters, TT and others.