China warns virus may spread as death toll hits 9

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BEIJING, Jan 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – China warned Wednesday that a SARS-like
virus could mutate and spread as the death toll rose to nine and the number
of cases reached 440 across the country.

The coronavirus is transmitted via the respiratory tract and there “is the
possibility of viral mutation and further spread of the disease”, National
Health Commission vice minister Li Bin said at a news conference.

The commission announced measures to contain the disease as hundreds of
millions of people travel across the country for this week’s Lunar New Year
holiday, including disinfection and ventilation at airports, train stations
and shopping centres.

“When needed, temperature checks will also be implemented in key areas at
crowded places,” the commission said in a statement.

The virus has been detected in some other Asian countries, and the United
States confirmed its first case on Tuesday.

The epicentre of the outbreak is the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where
authorities have stepped up fever checks at the airport, train stations and
highways, while a major Lunar New Year event that draws hundreds of thousands
of people was cancelled.