The first pictures and footage of Chinese doctors treating patients who were struck down with a new deadly virus have emerged.

Images shared by the Central Hospital of Wuhan, where the virus originated, show medics donning hazmat suits attending to the sufferers at the hospital's intensive care units.

While a video report released by state broadcaster CCTV captures the tense atmosphere at the intensive care units of the city's Jinyintan Hospital, where most of the patients are being looked after.

At least nine people - all in the central Chinese province of Hubei - have been killed by the new strain of coronavirus, and more than 500 people have been infected in the country.

This picture released by the Central Hospital of Wuhan shows a medic donning full-body hazardous material suit looking after one patient who has been infected by a new deadly virus

Another medic in hazmat suit is seen checking the medical equipment inside the hospital's intensive care units. Nine people have been killed by the virus since it emerged last month

Doctors at the Central Hospital of Wuhan clench their fists to show their determination to fight the virus. 'Salute to the medical workers who fight on the front line!' the hospital said in a post

The never-before-seen pictures were taken inside the intensive care units of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak

Five other countries and regions, including the United States, Thailand and Japan, have also reported confirmed cases.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CHINA'S CORONAVIRUS 1. At least 17 people have been killed, all in the Chinese province of Hubei 2. At least 500 people in China's 18 provinces, autonomous regions, special administrative regions and municipalities have been infected 3. The vast majority of patients are related to Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei with a population of around 11 million 4. Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the United States have all reported confirmed cases 5. The virus can be passed between humans 6. It has certain ability to spread within a neighbourhood 7. The virus has mainly been passed through the human respiratory system 8. The source of the virus has been identified as the illegally sold wildlife meat 9. The virus can evolve 10. It is more difficult for children to contract the virus, the reason remains unknown Source: China's National Health Commission, People's Daily Advertisement

The never-before-seen pictures were taken inside the intensive care units of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Central Hospital of Wuhan.

With a population of around 11 million, Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province and a major transport hub in central China.

'Medical workers are saving patients in a tense but orderly manner, and encouraging each other.

'Salute to the medical workers who fight on the front line!' the hospital wrote in a post today alongside the pictures on its official account on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

One of the images shows four doctors expressing their determination in battling the life-threatening virus by clenching their fists.

A doctor at Wuhan's Jinyintan Hospital showed a CCTV reporter how she prepared herself before entering the quarantined section guarded by two layers of glass doors.

The medic, firmly wrapped by medical clothing and donning a face mask, went through two rounds of sterilisation - first by an air shower and then by ultraviolet light.

The CCTV video then shows a number of nurses and doctors treating patients at their bedside. It is said that the medics would need to take turns every four hours.

Seven patients were hospitalised in the units on the day of CCTV's visit.

The deadly coronavirus has infected at least 526 people, including 518 in China.

One doctor and 13 nurses in Wuhan have been infected while looking after one patient because the hospital neglected the patient's symptoms, the city's mayor has revealed.

The United States yesterday recorded its first case of the virus.

The American health officials said the unidentified man from the state of Washington, who is in his 30s, was hospitalised but in 'good' condition. He is being closely monitored.

The man had travelled from Wuhan but did not visit any of the markets at the epicentre of the outbreak.

An American man with the new coronavirus has been identified in Washington state, CDC officials said on Wednesday, bringing the total number of countries with cases of the deadly virus to five outside of China, including the US, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

This picture taken on January 20 shows the exterior view of the south wing of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Centre, also known as the Jinyintan hospital, where many patients infected with the virus are being treated. At least 518 people in China have been sickened by the virus

Medical staff members are seen carrying a patient into the Jinyintan hospital on January 18. Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the United States have all reported cases

The Hubei authority is set to apply for emergency assistance from the central government to get 40 million face masks and five million hazmat suits to help it deal with the outbreak

The virus has also reached Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand.

So far, all of the nine deaths occurred in the Chinese province of Hubei.

The local authority today said it was set to apply for emergency assistance from the central government in hope of getting 40 million face masks and five million hazmat suits to help it deal with the outbreak.

The virus is spreading as millions of people travel every day in China amid the country's Lunar New Year travel rush, which will see about three billion trips made in the space of 40 days

Passengers are seen waiting for their trains at the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station today

The Chinese authorities have urged its people not to travel in and out of Wuhan for the festivities, and strengthened the health screening in transport hubs across the nation

China is currently witnessing its Lunar New Year travel rush, which will see some three billion trips made in the space of 40 days.

Millions of citizens are on the road every day in order to go home before the traditional holiday.

The authorities have urged the Chinese people not to travel in and out of Wuhan for the festivities, and strengthened the health screening in all transport hubs.