Mainland reports first death linked to Wuhan virus

A worker in China's first maximum-safety P4 laboratory, which opened in Wuhan last year. File photo: AFP

Chinese health authorities on Saturday announced the first death linked to a previously unknown virus that has spread in Wuhan.



Wuhan authorities said the 61-year-old man who died from the mysterious disease had previously been diagnosed with abdominal tumours and chronic liver disease.



He died on Thursday evening after hospital treatment did not improve his symptoms.



Authorities said the man was a regular buyer at a local seafood market, and patients linked to the disease were mainly vendors and purchasers there.



The authorities said no medical staff had been infected so far, and there are no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission.



The officials said as of Friday, 41 patients have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, which causes pneumonia and fever. Two have been discharged from hospital, seven are in serious condition and one has died. The remaining patients are in stable condition.



Last week the authorities had put the total number as 59. There was no indication why this was revised down.



A total of 739 close contacts have been identified – more than half of them healthcare workers. All have been put under medical surveillance, and no related cases have been detected so far.



According to the mainland's National Health Commission (NHC), so far there is no definite evidence of human-to-human transmission.



The NHC said epidemiological investigations said that the patients are mainly business operators at the Hua Nan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which has been closed since January 1.



No other regional authority on the mainland have officially reported any cases so far. But South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan along with Hong Kong have reported cases where patients have been isolated on suspicion of contracting the virus.



The Health Secretary, Sophia Chan, said a meeting will be held among to discuss the latest developments.



She said: "Also of note is that since the closure of the concerned market in Wuhan there are no new cases since the third of January. So I think there are important epidemiological information for us to do further assessment."



She said she will hold a meeting later on Saturday with relevant experts and officials to discuss the developments.