Science
- Authorities in Wuhan, central China, have identified 17 more patients of a deadly new strain of pneumonia, according to Reuters.
- Official totals now count 62 patients who have been infected with 2019-nCov, and two who have died.
- Some doubt has been cast on the official totals however, as the World Health Organization told Reuters that more cases could be detected as Chinese health authorities ramp up screenings.
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Seventeen more people in China have been struck with a deadly virus, according to Reuters.
The central China city of Wuhan's health commission told the outlet that the total number of known patients in the outbreak of the new, viral strain of pneumonia is now counted at 62.
The city's public health officials previously confirmed that 45 people were infected with 2019-nCov and two had died.
Business Insider previously reported that analysis from Imperial College London indicated that the actual number of infected patients as of January 12 was likely more in the region of 1,723, which is around 35 times the 45 cases that were announced by the city's authorities.
The study said it reached that figure through statistical projection to forecast the spread of the virus from the point of origin at a Wuhan seafood market.
Two people have also been diagnosed in Thailand, and one case of the virus was reported in Japan. All three of those patients had traveled through Wuhan, Reuters reported.
The new and international cases of the virus cast doubt on the seafood market as the point of origin, the World Health Organization tweeted last week, and the organization told Reuters that increased screening could find new cases.
The outbreak comes just ahead of the city's planned celebrations for the Lunar New Year, and authorities told Reuters they were stepping up plans to contain the virus as many people are expected to travel for the holiday.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that it would begin airport screenings with additional staffers at San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The patient reported a history of visiting a local fresh market in Wuhan on a regular basis prior to the onset of illness; however, she did not report visiting the Huanan South China Seafood Market from where most of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases were detected pic.twitter.com/XUMG8F4uyV
- World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020