The mysterious virus spreading through China has led authorities to lock down entire cities, restrict travel, and cancel major holiday celebrations ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year this weekend
The outbreak has killed 17 and infected another 630. Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images The mysterious virus spreading through China that has killed 17 and left 630 people sick has led Beijing to lock down entire cities, restrict travel, and cancel major holiday celebrations ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year this weekend.
“A bigger outbreak is certain,” Guan Yi, a Hong Kong–based infectious disease expert, told Caixin. In 2003, Guan helped identify the source of SARS, which was also a coronavirus. The SARS outbreak infected thousands and killed 774 people after spreading to five continents. The virus came from a Wuhan market that sells poultry and exotic animal meats. Public health officials have pointed to bamboo rats, Chinese horseshoe bats, badgers, and snakes as potential sources of the disease. Concerns arose last week when it became clear that the virus could be transferred between humans.
The virus has arrived in China at a terrible time. This weekend marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, which see hundreds of millions of Chinese travel around and out of the country.
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