Taiwan confirms 10th case of coronavirus

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 10 cases of coronavirus that caused pneumonia have been confirmed so far in Taiwan, according to China's news agency.

The 10th patient had returned from Wuhan, China, the heart of coronavirus outbreak on Jan. 12, and was later misdiagnosed with flu on Jan. 22, with "no symptoms of pneumonia", Chinese news agency Xinhua on Friday reported, citing Taiwan's epidemic monitoring agency.

He went through further medical examination and the infection was confirmed after his wife, the 9th confirmed case, was found Thursday infected by a coronavirus.

Additionally, people who have close contacts with the couple were quarantined at home and no symptoms are currently found.

The coronavirus, so named because under the microscope it resembles a crown, has killed at least 259 people in China, with nearly 12,000 infected. More than 118,000 people are under medical observation.

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

Beyond China, the virus has spread to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, France, Vietnam, and Canada.

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