China coronavirus: four new cases confirmed in Wuhan, but study says 1,723 people may have symptoms
- Researchers at Imperial College London say estimate based on duration of detection period, catchment population of Wuhan airport and volume of international travellers
- Health authorities in central China city say latest cases in stable condition
The new cases in Wuhan were diagnosed on Thursday, and all of the patients were in a stable condition, the city’s municipal health commission said.
A further 763 people known to have been in close contact with the 45 confirmed cases had been given the all-clear after being tested, it said.
But the researchers in London said on Friday that it was likely there were substantially more people with moderate to severe respiratory problems caused by the virus that have yet to be identified or confirmed.
According to their models, published on the website of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, as of January 12, an estimated 1,723 people were likely to have been infected with the new coronavirus.
The claim was based on a number of assumptions, including the duration of the detection period, the catchment population of Wuhan airport and the volume of international travellers.
The researchers suggested expanding surveillance to all people treated for pneumonia or severe respiratory disease in hospitals in the Wuhan area and other Chinese cities with which it has close transport links.
The study comes as countries across the region look to tighten their health checks of Chinese visitors ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts next weekend.
Authorities in Thailand on Friday confirmed a second case of the coronavirus involving a 74-year-old Chinese woman who was placed in quarantine after showing symptoms on her arrival in the country on Monday.
The Thai health ministry said it had increased monitoring at four airports that handle daily flights from Wuhan.
