Millions sealed off as virus spreads

China sealed off millions more people near the epicentre of a virus outbreak yesterday, shutting down public transport in an eighth city in an unprecedented quarantine effort as the death toll climbed to 26.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) held off on declaring a global emergency despite cases in half a dozen other countries, China expanded a lockdown now covering 26 million people and cancelled some Lunar New Year celebrations to prevent the disease spreading further.

The virus that emerged in the central city of Wuhan has now infected 830 people, the national health commission said.

The new virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

WHO said China faced an emergency but stopped short of making a global declaration that would have prompted greater international cooperation, including possible trade and travel restrictions.

Wuhan, a major industrial and transport hub of 11 million people, has been rendered a ghost town by China’s imposition of an unprecedented transport quarantine around it.

China has begun its Lunar New Year holiday, typically marked by family gatherings and public events, but the streets of Wuhan were deserted.

In stark contrast, a hospital bustled as worried patients came in to get checked for the virus.

One 35-year-old man voiced the fears of many. “I have a fever and cough, so I’m worried that I’m infected,” he said, giving only his surname, Li.

With millions of people on the move across China for the holiday, the government has halted all travel out of Wuhan. – AFP

I have a fever and cough, so I’m worried that I’m infected