Health authorities across the globe are grappling with how to contain the rapid spread of the new coronavirus that has sickened hundreds and left at least 17 people dead in China. The U.S. has confirmed one case and several others have popped up in Asian countries – all people who had visited the epicenter city of Wuhan, in China’s Hubei province.
Authorities believe the virus, which causes flu-like symptoms, jumped into the human population from an infected animal at a market in Wuhan. The entire city of 11 million people was put on lock-down Wednesday, with transport links being cut and authorities saying nobody was to be allowed out.
Chinese health officials and the World Health Organization confirmed this week that the virus had been transmitted person-to-person, but it remained unclear Thursday how easy it was to contract from another infected individual.
Screening has been put in place for passengers arriving from at least some Chinese cities at airports in the U.S. and many other countries.
