China reports 2nd death from virus behind outbreak

BEIJING:A second person has died from a new coronavirus that has caused an outbreak of pneumonia in central China, health authorities said.

A 69-year-old man surnamed Xiong fell ill with the respiratory condition on December 31, according to a statement late Thursday from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. He died Wednesday.

Xiong exhibited abnormal renal function, severe impairment in multiple organs, inflammation of the heart muscle and other pressing conditions when he was admitted to the hospital. It was not clear from the commission’s statement whether these were pre-existing issues or consequences of the viral pneumonia.

In total, 41 people in Wuhan have been diagnosed with a coronavirus, a family of viruses that can cause both the common cold and more severe diseases like SARS and MERS. As of late Thursday, 12 patients have been cured and discharged and five were being treated for acute conditions.

Xiong’s is the second death associated with the outbreak. Last Saturday, a 61-year-old man who had abdominal tumours and chronic liver disease died.

Authorities have tracked more than 700 people who were in close contact with infected patients. Among them, no related cases have been found.

THAILAND FINDS SECOND CASE

BANGKOK: Thailand has found a second case of the Chinese coronavirus, authorities said on Friday, as they ramped up checks on Chinese visitors, nearly a million of whom are expected for Lunar New Year holidays next week.

The latest patient is from China’s Wuhan.

A 74-year-old woman, quarantined since arriving in Thailand on Monday, was found to be infected, health officials said.

“We’re very confident that we can control the spread of this kind of diseases,” Thailand’s health minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters.