What We Know So Far About The New Virus

Beijing, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2020 ) :A new SARS-like virus has killed 17 people, infected hundreds and reached as far as the United States, with fears mounting about its spread as hundreds of millions travel for Lunar New Year celebrations, which start Friday.

Many countries have stepped up screening of passengers.

Here's what we know so far about the virus: - It's entirely new - The pathogen appears to be a never-before-seen strain of coronavirus -- a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed 349 people and another 299 in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003.

Arnaud Fontanet, head of the department of epidemiology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, told AFP the current virus strain was 80 percent genetically identical to SARS.

It has been named "2019-nCoV".

- It's being passed between humans - The WHO said Monday it believed an animal source was the "Primary source" of the outbreak, and Wuhan authorities identified a seafood market as the centre of the epidemic.

There was evidence the virus is now passing from person to person, without any contact with the now-closed market.

More than 500 cases of the virus have now been reported, according to officials. Li Bin National Health Commission representative on Wednesday said 1,394 people were still under medical observation.

Nathalie MacDermott of King's College London said it seems likely that the virus is spread through droplets in the air from sneezing or coughing.