A mysterious illness is striking throughout China. On one side, China is preparing for the forthcoming Lunar New Year boom. On the other hand, health officials have reported the nation’s first death from an ongoing pneumonia outbreak. The lethal case has raised worries over a probable epidemic similar to the previous SARS epidemic that occurred in the early-2000s. Between 2002-2003 SARS epidemic had killed more than 8,000 people across the world. Authorities said an older adult in the central Chinese city of Wuhan had been admitted to the hospital. At the time, the old-man was having difficulty in breathing as well as severe pneumonia. Whereas, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission reported that the mysterious virus had infected 41 people. Currently, seven of the patients are severely ill.
On Sunday, the WHO has linked the epidemic with the central city of Wuhan’s seafood market. As per the health agency, the virus has not spread beyond that single seafood market. Currently, the government has sealed the major transportation hub for both domestic and international. Besides, no cases have emerged anywhere else. The WHO said the proof greatly suggests that the epidemic has a connection with exposures in Wuhan’s seafood market. The agency added, at this point, it has not found cases of infection among medical staff. Even more, it has not discovered clear proof of transmission of coronavirus from person to person.
Last week, the WHO noted that the current virus is a recent emergence member of the group of coronavirus. Previously, this fleet of viruses has resulted in devastating epidemics of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). Coronavirus can result in various infections starting from the common cold to SARS. Well, some strains may cause less serious illness, while others can result in more complicated situations. So far, enquires are still in progress to estimate the entire extent of the epidemic.
