A mysterious pneumonia outbreak is causing panic in China, and nobody knows where it came from. Chinese scientists investigating a myst...
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| A mysterious pneumonia outbreak is causing panic in China, and nobody knows where it came from. |
Chinese scientists investigating a mystery illness that has sickened dozens in central China, the city of Wuhan and have discovered a new strain of coronavirus, a development that will test the country’s upgraded capabilities for dealing with unfamiliar infectious diseases.
The mysterious virus came just weeks before an influx of visitors are slated to travel around China for the Lunar New Year, 59 people have been already infected with mysterious viral pneumonia, and officials still don't know exactly how they got sick or what they're sick with. Seven of those 59 people are reported to be in critical condition. While no deaths have been reported, residents of China and neighbouring countries, are starting to panic. Symptoms of the disease include fever, difficulty breathing and invasive lesions on both lungs, the World Health Organisation reported. All of the infected patients are in quarantine, and 163 people who were in contact with the patients are now under medical observation.
- 59 people in Wuhan, China, have been infected with unknown viral pneumonia.
- Seven of those people are reported to be in critical condition.
- Officials still don't know how the disease was transmitted, though they have traced the outbreak to a seafood market that sold live animals.
- Residents panicked, fearing the deadly SARS virus had returned.
- The last SARS outbreak ravaged China in 2003, killing 774 people.
- But officials say SARS can be ruled out, along with bird flu and MERS.
- Chinese officials are racing to figure out what's behind this mystery outbreak.
Residents originally feared that the highly contagious SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus was back. In 2003 SARS devastated China, killing hundreds, before spreading across Asia. But as online rumours swirled about the resurgence of SARS, Chinese officials announced that they ruled SARS out as a cause of illness, CBS News reported. They've also ruled out bird flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Chinese officials believe the outbreak began sometime between December 12 and December 19, at a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan. The market has since been shut down.
Residents are concerned that the virus may have been transmitted from animals to humans, given that the Huanan Seafood market sold live rabbits, snakes and other animals. SARS was originally traced to the civet cat, which was considered a culinary delicacy in parts of Southern China. respiratory expert Professor David Hui Shu-cheong told CNN Health. It's possible this most recent virus may have been transmitted from one of the live animals sold at the market. Most of Asia is on high alert. The US embassy released a health alert, cautioning Americans in China to "avoid contact with sick people." Health alerts were triggered across Hong Kong and Singapore, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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