Anders Anglesey – January 16, 2020
Japanese officials have confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus in the country as epidemic fears grow.
A government official said today that a Japanese man in his 30s, who travelled to Wuhan in eastern China, tested positive for the virus.
The SARS-like virus has struck down dozens in China since the outbreak was first recorded in December.
It is believed an outbreak of pneumonia caused the fresh coronavirus strain.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the virus could spread further and has told hospitals across the world to be alert.
Maria Van Kerkhove, acting head of the WHO’s emerging diseases unit, said: “From the information that we have it is possible that there is limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission.
She added: “It is still early days, we don’t have a clear clinical picture.”
Coronaviruses are infections that can cause colds to more-serious illnesses like SARS.
In all, 41 cases of pneumonia have been reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which preliminary lab tests cited by state media showed could be from a new type of coronavirus.
One of the patients has died, a 61-year-old man who had bought goods from a wholesale seafood market in Wuhan.