China expert: Virus epidemic to peak later this month

new virus that's killed more than 1,000 people in China and infected thousands more will reach its peak in south of country by second half of February, a top virus expert said on Tuesday.

During a video conference with doctors in Wuhan, leing epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said increase of new coronavirus cases in China was grually declining.

He pointed out that measures of containment nationwide were working.

But he ackwledged situation of Wuhan was still severe, where increase of cases "h t been significantly reduced".

" problem of human to human transmission has yet been resolved," Nanshan said.

National Health Commission said in its daily update on Tuesday total number of deaths in mainland China h risen to 1,016.

total has far exceeded toll of 2002-03 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which was caused by a different but related coronavirus.