January 06, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

A mysterious virus had reportedly broken out in Wuhan, China during December 12 and 29 of 2019. On January 5, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced 59 people were infected with the flu-like viral pneumonia.

The outbreak has alerted China and its neighboring Asian provinces, and it is a highly possible case of being affected by the contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. The outbreak prompted neighboring Asian provinces, like Hong Kong and Singapore, to carefully take screening processes on travelers from Wuhan. The deadly SARS had killed more than 700 people around the world between 2002 and 2003.

On January 5, China officials stated the viral pneumonia outbreak was an avian flu and excluded the hypotheses of SARS. The symptoms reported in a total of 59 patients were mainly fever and 7 were considered critical. However, they have been all treated in quarantine. None have died by far. The health commission said the investigations would continue to identify the virus and its source.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the epidemic linked to a wholesale fish and live animal market in Wuhan. The infection indicated a likely exposure link to animals-to-human transmission.

Photo:Webshot.