An unknown disease affects nearly sixty people in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Between December 12 and December 29, 59 cases of this unknown pneumonia were reported, according to CNN. There have been no deaths, but seven people are in critical condition and all of the patients have been quarantined.
Doctors initially feared a resurgence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a respiratory disease first detected in the country in 2002. SARS had spread to 37 countries, infected more than 8,000 people and killed 774 patients in less than a year.
Authorities in Wuhan finally announced on Sunday that it was not a disease, or Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers), or bird flu.
A priori no contamination between humans
But then what is it? The Wuhan Health Commission looked into the probable causes of contamination. It turns out that several sick people work at the city's seafood market, where live animals such as birds, snakes and rabbits are also sold. The market has been closed since January 1 to be disinfected.
The authorities therefore assume contamination by animals. But for the moment, no human-to-human contamination has been proven: no member of the hospital staff who took care of the sick has been infected. The 163 people who were in contact with the sick were placed under observation.
Neighboring countries take preventive measures
However, the possibility of a national epidemic has not been entirely ruled out. The disease started just before the Chinese Lunar New Year, when millions of people are preparing to visit their families in China or travel abroad.
This is why the governments of neighboring countries are monitoring the situation closely. Several of them have implemented preventive measures before this period of travel. In Hong Kong and Singapore, for example, passengers from Wuhan will be screened. In South Korea, the authorities have planned to strengthen quarantine units, and have asked people traveling to Wuhan not to go to markets and to stay away from wild animals.