Malaysia evacuates its citizens from virus-hit Wuhan

By Omer Faruk Yildiz

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) - Malaysia on Tuesday evacuated its 107 citizens from Wuhan, the heart of deadly coronavirus outbreak in China.

Malaysia also dispatched 500,000 rubber gloves to China.

Evacuees will be quarantined for 14 days in line with a coronavirus incubation period.

Malaysia is expected to send another plane this week to bring another group of citizens back from Wuhan.

The coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has so far claimed more than 360 lives since its outbreak last December.

Over 20,000 others have been infected by the epidemic believed to have been transmitted to humans from animals, particularly bats.

Since its outbreak, China has put Wuhan under lockdown in a bid to contain the virus and built a 1,000-bed hospital to treat those affected.

Besides China, the virus has spread to more than 20 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, France, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India, Nepal, and Canada.

Travelers from China are being screened for the virus at airports worldwide. Several airlines have suspended flights to Wuhan.

Japan, South Korea, U.S., Australia, Pakistan, India, France, Germany, Indonesia, and Turkey evacuated their citizens from Wuhan, the epicenter of the deadly virus.

*Writing by Burak Dag