BEIJING: Health authorities are concerned that a virus originating in Wuhan could spread when hundreds of millions of people travel during next week's lunar new year festival, but residents said there were was little anxiety in the city at the epicentre.
As of Friday, two people in the city of Wuhan had died following an outbreak of pneumonia linked to a new strain of coronavirus that authorities suspect originated in a seafood market.
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Wuhan's health authority said on Saturday (Jan 18) that a further four people were confirmed to have the virus, bringing the total number of known cases to almost 50.
Two cases have been reported in Thailand and one in Japan – all people who had travelled from Wuhan recently.
A report published by London's Imperial College said there could be as many as 1,723 infections in Wuhan city alone.
READ: Spread of new China virus 'possible': WHO
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"It is likely that the Wuhan outbreak of a novel coronavirus has caused substantially more cases of moderate or severe respiratory illness than currently reported," said the report.
"Self-sustaining human-to-human transmission should not be ruled out."
Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Currently the World Health Organization (WHO) and Wuhan health authorities have not concluded that the virus can be passed from person to person.
According to official statistics released on Saturday, 763 people who came in contact with victims were identified by authorities, and 98 remain under observation.
The United States and most Asian countries have stepped up screenings of travellers from Wuhan and the WHO has warned hospitals worldwide that a wider outbreak is possible.
In 2002/03, the SARS virus which originated in China killed nearly 800 people worldwide.
People in Wuhan who spoke to Reuters said that while many are reviewing travel plans as a precaution, general anxiety over the virus is low. Businesses are operating normally in the city, which has a population of more than 8 million, they said.
READ: US warns citizens in China against pneumonia outbreak
Gyms, pools, transport hubs and food markets contacted by Reuters said they had not made changes or taken extra precautions.
More than 400 million Chinese people are expected to make 3 billion trips over the lunary new year beginning on Jan 24, mostly migrant workers returning to their home towns. However, many Chinese also use the holiday to go overseas.
A person who works for China's official train ticketing service told Reuters on Friday that there were no additional health screening measures or temperature checks in place at Wuhan train stations.
READ: Wuhan pneumonia outbreak: Japan confirms first case of infection
TEMPERATURE TESTS
Since Wednesday, people travelling from Wuhan's Tianhe International airport have been subject to temperature tests before boarding flights, according to an official notice.
Two flight attendants staffing separate domestic flights in and out of the city said they had not received additional training or warnings about the virus.
But people who have been affected are worried.
"I look at a public handrail or food or people standing close together and it makes me feel anxious," said a 33-year-old woman surnamed Peng, who lives about 1km from the seafood market where the virusRead More – Source
BEIJING: Health authorities are concerned that a virus originating in Wuhan could spread when hundreds of millions of people travel during next week's lunar new year festival, but residents said there were was little anxiety in the city at the epicentre.
As of Friday, two people in the city of Wuhan had died following an outbreak of pneumonia linked to a new strain of coronavirus that authorities suspect originated in a seafood market.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Wuhan's health authority said on Saturday (Jan 18) that a further four people were confirmed to have the virus, bringing the total number of known cases to almost 50.
Two cases have been reported in Thailand and one in Japan – all people who had travelled from Wuhan recently.
A report published by London's Imperial College said there could be as many as 1,723 infections in Wuhan city alone.
READ: Spread of new China virus 'possible': WHO
Advertisement
Advertisement
"It is likely that the Wuhan outbreak of a novel coronavirus has caused substantially more cases of moderate or severe respiratory illness than currently reported," said the report.
"Self-sustaining human-to-human transmission should not be ruled out."
Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Currently the World Health Organization (WHO) and Wuhan health authorities have not concluded that the virus can be passed from person to person.
According to official statistics released on Saturday, 763 people who came in contact with victims were identified by authorities, and 98 remain under observation.
The United States and most Asian countries have stepped up screenings of travellers from Wuhan and the WHO has warned hospitals worldwide that a wider outbreak is possible.
In 2002/03, the SARS virus which originated in China killed nearly 800 people worldwide.
People in Wuhan who spoke to Reuters said that while many are reviewing travel plans as a precaution, general anxiety over the virus is low. Businesses are operating normally in the city, which has a population of more than 8 million, they said.
READ: US warns citizens in China against pneumonia outbreak
Gyms, pools, transport hubs and food markets contacted by Reuters said they had not made changes or taken extra precautions.
More than 400 million Chinese people are expected to make 3 billion trips over the lunary new year beginning on Jan 24, mostly migrant workers returning to their home towns. However, many Chinese also use the holiday to go overseas.
A person who works for China's official train ticketing service told Reuters on Friday that there were no additional health screening measures or temperature checks in place at Wuhan train stations.
READ: Wuhan pneumonia outbreak: Japan confirms first case of infection
TEMPERATURE TESTS
Since Wednesday, people travelling from Wuhan's Tianhe International airport have been subject to temperature tests before boarding flights, according to an official notice.
Two flight attendants staffing separate domestic flights in and out of the city said they had not received additional training or warnings about the virus.
But people who have been affected are worried.
"I look at a public handrail or food or people standing close together and it makes me feel anxious," said a 33-year-old woman surnamed Peng, who lives about 1km from the seafood market where the virusRead More – Source
