China believes a mysterious pneumonia outbreak that has struck 59 people is due to a new strain of virus from the family of pathogens that includes SARS, state media said Thursday. The infection was first confirmed on December 31 in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of more than 11 million, and initially sparked fears about a resurgence of the highly contagious flu-like SARS.
It has also prompted authorities in Hong Kong - badly hit by SARS in 2002-2003 - to take precautionary measures, including stepping up the disinfection of trains and airplanes, and checks of passengers. An expert team has "preliminarily determined" that a new type of coronavirus is behind the outbreak, lead scientist Xu Jianguo told the official Xinhua news agency.
"A total of 15 positive results of the new type of coronavirus had been detected" in the lab, through tests on infected blood samples and throat swabs, Xu said. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement Wednesday that a new coronavirus could not be excluded as a possible cause of the disease.
Xu said further research was needed on the nature of the outbreak. China has said it has ruled out SARS, which killed hundreds of people more than a decade ago. Wuhan's health commission said on Sunday seven of the 59 patients were seriously ill but none had died. All patients received treatment in quarantine. Eight patients have recovered and were discharged from hospital on Wednesday, according to Xinhua. No patients are known to have died so far.
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