China confirms 17 new cases of mystery virus

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - China on Sunday confirmed 17 new cases of the recently-discovered virus, taking the total number of infected people to 62 in the country, according to local media.

Authorities in Wuhan announced that 17 new cases were revealed with the help of new test kits -- taking the total number to 62. Of those, two people died, eight are in a serious condition and 19 were discharged, the local daily South China Morning Post, reported.

Health officials in China's Wuhan province said, 681 of 763 people known to have been in close contact with infected people have been tested for the virus but none of them were found infected with the virus.

According to diagnoses by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, 62 people infected are suffering from pneumonia caused by the coronavirus.

China on Thursday confirmed the second death from the virus in Wuhan province.

Last Saturday, the country reported the first death from a new virus that broke out in central China.

Besides China, Japan and Thailand also reported three cases of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Chinese authorities believe a new coronavirus -- the family of the deadly SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) viruses -- may be the cause of the mysterious pneumonia cases in the city, the monthly Scientific American magazine reported.

"Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to SARS. Some cause less-severe disease, some more severe. Some transmit easily from person to person, while others don't," according to WHO.