Wuhan coronavirus death toll rises in China

The death toll from the Wuhan coronavirus has topped 25, with at least 830 cases, official numbers show.

The National Health Commission released the updated figures for Friday.

The virus originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei late last year and has spread to Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

It has caused alarm because it is still too early to know just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. And because it is new, humans have not been able to build any immunity to it.

The previously unknown strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in Wuhan.

Wuhan, the megacity with a population of more than 11 million, is the capital of Hubei province and is one of five cities in lockdown as authorities try to contain the outbreak.

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Thailand has reported four cases, Japan and Vietnam two apiece, and South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and the United States one each. A second possible case was being tested in the United States and the BBC reported five people being tested in Scotland.

Patients in these cases were either residents of Wuhan or recent visitors to the city.

The World Health Organization said on Thursday that while the outbreak was an emergency for China and the agency was tracking the evolution 'every minute', it was not yet a global health emergency.

China says the virus, which causes pneumonia-like symptoms, is mutating and that there is evidence of respiratory transmission. Those most affected are older people and those with underlying health conditions.

Three research teams are working on a vaccine, with plans to have at least one in clinical trials by June.

The research will be conducted by drug and vaccine developer Moderna working with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; US firm Inovio Pharma; and a team at the University of Queensland, Australia.

- Reuters