The coronavirus outbreak has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since its emergence, the virus has killed more than 300 people and infected more than 17,000 in China. But what are the key signs of coronavirus?
The death toll for coronavirus surpassed that of the Sars virus as dozens more died in Wuhan, China, over the weekend.
Chinese state media reported 57 new deaths on Monday, all but one in Wuhan, the capital of the central province of Hubei which has been under lockdown for almost two weeks as authorities try to contain the outbreak.
The foreign ministry issued an urgent appeal for protective medical equipment as the total number of casualties reached 361, surpassing deaths in mainland China caused by the 2002 to 2003 Sars virus.
The coronavirus appears to be spreading more efficiently than its cousins Sars or Mers, which is most likely due to the fact it has broken out in an area of the world which is densely populated and where hospitals are severely undersupplied and understaffed.
The 2019-nCoV has a higher case-fatality ratio and a higher reproduction number than influenza, meaning it could spread more widely.
The Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Our greatest concern is the potential of the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.”