Deputy PM on virus cases in Malaysia

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Ismail released more details on Wednesday on the seven confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus in the country.

Wan Azizah said the bulk of the diagnosed cases came from a single Chinese family who entered Malaysia through Singapore.

She added that Malaysian officials are working very hard to contain the spread and that they do not wish to cause panic among Malaysians.

Her statements came following a visit to the Health Ministry's centre for monitoring the virus in the city of Putrajaya.

 The United States and several other nations prepared Tuesday to airlift citizens out of a Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak that has killed more than 100 people.

Hong Kong’s leader said it will cut all rail links to mainland China and halve the number of flights as authorities in China and overseas sought to stem the spread of the new virus. The number of confirmed cases rose to more than 4,500.

The U.S. government chartered a plane to fly out diplomats from the U.S. Consulate in Wuhan, where the outbreak started, and other Americans. The plane will make a refueling stop in Alaska before flying on to Ontario, California, the U.S. Embassy said.