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China says infections spreading as it reports third death from Wuhan virus; WHO indicates human transmission likely
- Authorities find 136 new infections in Wuhan, confirm first cases in other cities – one in Shenzhen and two in Beijing
- World Health Organisation says there could be some limited human-to-human infection
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Chinese authorities on Monday said another person died over the weekend from coronavirus infection, bringing the death count to three in the city of Wuhan, and for the first time officially announced the recently identified virus had spread to other areas in China.
It came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there was an indication that the pneumonia-like virus – thought to have originated in a seafood and animal meat market in Wuhan – could spread through human-to-human transmission.
China’s National Health Commission said two people in Beijing were confirmed as being infected, along with one in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong. Other suspected cases were also reported on Monday, with eight people under quarantine in Shenzhen and five in the coastal province of Zhejiang, which neighbours Shanghai.
Wuhan reported the death of a patient with the virus and more than 130 new infections over the weekend alone, taking the total in the central Chinese city to 198.
Reports that the virus was spreading in China raised particular concern with hundreds of millions of people travelling across China this week for the Lunar New Year holiday. Wuhan itself has a population of about 11 million people – more than New York or London – and is one of the country’s major rail hubs.
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