17 new cases of China’s mystery virus reported

BEIJING: Chinese authorities said on Sunday that the outbreak of a new Sars-like virus that’s killed two and sickened dozens is “still preventable and controllable,” even as it reported that 17 more people have been infected with the new mysterious coronavirus.

It has also sparked concerns of a wider outbreak as the travel rush for the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays peaks this week. More than three billion trips are expected to be made during a 40-day rush for the CNY holidays.

According to the official news agency, Xinhua, “Epidemiological investigations into the 17 new cases are underway and close contacts are being traced, the authority said, adding that Wuhan will continue to expand the search area, identify suspected cases and conduct sampling tests.”

The source and transmission routes of the novel coronavirus in the city of Wuhan are still unknown, the National Health

Commission said in a statement on Sunday. “Experts judged that the current epidemic situation is still preventable and controllable,” the National Health Commission said. Two people have died from the virus in Wuhan.

China “will strengthen the coordination and coordination of departments and strictly implement non-proliferation measures,” the National Health Commission said, adding it will step up monitoring over the Lunar New Year period.

Singapore has started work on developing a kit to test the virus, the Straits Times reported on Sunday, citing an interview with May Ong, a director at the Home Team Science and Technology Agency, which helps manage homeland security for the island. The government-backed agency is seeking the full genome sequence from China, the report added. The surge in numbers announced by the Wuhan health commission on Sunday comes a day after a new analysis said more than 1700 could actually be infected with the “novel coronavirus”.