Vast virus quarantine in China as cases emerge in Europe, S. Asia

Wuhan (China) Jan 25 (AFP) A massive quarantine effort covering 13 cities was in effect in China on Saturday aimed at containing a dely virus, as death toll climbed to 26 and first cases of disease were reported in Europe and South Asia.

China on Friday imposed transport bans in an area covering a staggering 41 million people, as United States confirmed its second case of SARS-like virus that has reached almost a dozen countries.

virus has also spre to densely populated South Asia, where Nepal confirmed one case, and Europe, where two cases were reported in France.

With more than 800 cases logged in China so far, a range of Lunar New Year festivities have been cancelled, with temporary closures of Beijing's Forbidden City, Shanghai's Disneyland and a section of Great Wall to prevent disease from spreing furr.

previously unkwn virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

World Health Organization said China faced a national emergency but stopped short of declaring a global health emergency, which would have prompted greater global cooperation.

outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China's centre, spreing to several or countries.

In United States, a woman in Chicago became second kwn patient on US soil, with 50 or suspected cases under investigation. A city health official said on Friday woman was doing well and in stable condition.

Hours after anuncement President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping via Twitter "on behalf of American People" for his country's "efforts and transparency" in working to contain virus.

"It will all work out well," Trump wrote.

first case in South Asia was reported in Nepal on Friday. 32-year-old male patient, who h arrived from Wuhan, was treated at a hospital in Kathmandu and discharged, officials said.

And two cases were confirmed in France, first in Europe. Both h recently travelled to China and have been placed in isolation, country's health minister said.

China is in midst of its Lunar New Year holiday, a typically joyous time of family garings and public festivities.

But on Friday Wuhan was a ghost town, its streets deserted and stores shuttered.

As reports surfaced of bed shorts in Wuhan for sick, state media said authorities were rushing to build a new hospital only for outbreak in a mind-blowing 10 days.

Hospitals visited by AFP journalists bustled with worried patients being screened by staff wearing full-body protective suits.

At a temperature-check station, a medical staffer in a bodysuit, face mask and goggles took a rmometer from a middle-d woman, pausing to examine reing before quickly turning back to patient.

"Have you registered? n go and see doctor," staffer said.

One 35-year-old man surnamed Li voiced fears of many. "I have a fever and cough, so I'm worried that I'm infected," he said.

With millions of people on move across China for holiday, government has halted all travel out of Wuhan, shut down its public transport and told residents to stay home. Few flights were available to city.

"This year we have a very scary Chinese New Year. People are t going outside because of virus," a taxi driver in city, who asked t to be named, told AFP.

He said a prolonged shutdown should t pose food-short problems because many Chinese h stocked up for holiday.

Besides Wuhan, 12 smaller cities nearby have battened down hatches, with most anuncing measures Friday that include closing public venues, restricting large garings and halting public transportation, as well as urging citizens t to travel.

Several of cities have populations numbering several million, led by Huanggang with 7.5 million.

pathogen -- 2019 vel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -- has caused many outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and or cities to sell out of face masks.

State brocaster CCTV reported that 40 military medical doctors were being deployed to Wuhan to help with intensive care.

In dition, 405 medical workers were being sent to Wuhan from Shanghai, said state news ncy Xinhua.

In Beijing, staff in full-body protective suits were seen Friday checking temperatures of people entering a subway station.

rmal cameras also scanned passengers arriving at Beijing's West Railway Station.

Beijing has been praised for its response in contrast to SARS, when it took months to report disease and initially denied WHO experts any access.

Gao Fu, he of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, asked China's people to forego New Year garings this year and confine mselves at home until all-clear.

AFP

RAX

RAX