These are the symptoms of the deadly Wuhan virus, and when you should be worried

• The deadly Wuhan coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, has killed nine people in China and infected 440 people around the world, including in the US.
• The virus can be transmitted from person to person, and there are fears of it spreading further.
• Health officials at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have released guidance on the symptoms and conditions of the virus.
• Here is a breakdown of the clinical symptoms and conditions of the virus, and what you should do if you think you are at risk.
• You can read Business Insider's full coverage of the Wuhan virus here.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The deadly Wuhan coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV, has as of Wednesday killed nine people in China and infected 440 around the world. The US confirmed its first case - a man in his 30s in Washington state - on Tuesday.

Scientists are still scrambling to fully understand the disease, which they confirmed Tuesday can be passed from human to human.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a criteria on their website detailing guidance for healthcare professionals on the symptoms of the virus.

What to look out for

A person could be at risk if they have:

• Fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness - such as coughing or difficulty in breathing.
• Also if they have pneumonia-like symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat and headache.

If coupled with the following conditions, you might be at risk:

• If you have traveled from Wuhan, China, in the 14 days before the onset of the symptoms.
• If you have had close contact with someone under investigation for the virus while they were ill in the last 14 days.
• If you have had close contact with an ill, lab-confined patient of the virus in the last 14 days.

"Close contact" is defined as being within "approximately 6 feet, or within the room or care area" of a person with the coronavirus without appropriate protective clothing, the CDC said.

They can also include caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area with a person with the virus, the agency added.

The CDC says that if you have traveled to Wuhan recently and feel any of these symptoms, you should "seek medical care right away."

Patients in the US who meet these criteria should be evaluated as a person under investigation for the Wuhan, and reported to their state health department, it added.

Who is most at risk?

Coronaviruses like 2019-nCoV are particularly dangerous for people who have weakened immune systems, like younger children and older adults.

There are no vaccines to protect humans from contracting a coronavirus.

Pets are also at risk of catching coronaviruses, which can lead to disease and even death.

The outbreak of the Wuhan virus was first identified at a market that sold seafood and live animals like wolves and civet cats. The government has since banned these sales.

How to protect yourself

These are the CDC's and other healthcare experts' suggestions on how to protect yourself from the disease while traveling:

• Try to avoid contact with people that display symptoms similar to those of pneumonia or the common cold, like coughing or runny noses.
• Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and scrub for at least 20 seconds.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when possible.
• Avoid animals and animal markets.

The World Health Organization are due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland, to decide whether to declare the outbreak as a global health emergency.

• Read more:
• The US has reported its first case of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus. Here's how to protect yourself while traveling.
• This terrifying graph shows how fast the Wuhan virus has spread so far, and how close it is to becoming a global pandemic
• China warned the deadly Wuhan virus is 'mutating' and could spread further, with over 2,000 people tested after being close to those infected
• The US plans to force passengers to change routes, and potentially redirect entire flights, to make sure they get screened for the Wuhan virus

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