‘Humans could become vectors’
BEIJING:FOR the first time, Chinese health authorities have said that it is possible that the new coronavirus, which has sparked fears of an outbreak as hundreds of millions begin travelling in China and outside for the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays, could be passed through human contact. However, they said the risk of person-to-person transmission is still low.
At least one person has been killed and dozens infected by the new virus, which can cause respiratory illness and influenza-type symptoms. Among the 41 people infected so far, there is at least one couple.
The announcement from Whan city’s health authorities in central China’s Hubei province came after it was confirmed that an infected person who travelled to Thailand was from Wuhan and is undergoing treatment in a hospital near Bangkok.
At least three other Chinese travellers from Wuhan were diagnosed with fever in Thailand, but they were later found not to have been infected with the virus.
On Tuesday, the WHO said there may have been limited human-to-human transmission of the virus in China within families and the possibility of a bigger outbreak couldn’t be ruled out.
Wuhan’s health commission told Chinese state media that people in close contact with the traveller were under medical observation but no symptom of the disease had been found in them yet.
“The commission said that they found no evidence that the new coronavirus can be passed on via people, but they cannot completely rule out the possibility. However, such risk is low, and further research is underway,” a state media report said.
The Wuhan health commission also that among the 41 cases, most were men and the majority were exposed to a certain seafood market.