WUHAN: The new strain of coronavirus in China may be spreading from person to person via the digestive system, Xinhua reported on Sunday (Feb 2), citing medical experts.



Experts from the Renminbi Hospital of Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Science reported their findings after studying patient stool samples and rectal swabs, the news agency said.



Xinhua reported that many coronavirus patients suffered only from diarrhoea instead of from classic viral symptoms like fever.



Diarrhoea symptoms may make fecal-oral transmission of the virus more likely, especially if there is inadequate hand-washing or sanitary facilities.



Public squat latrines are common in parts of China.



Meanwhile, the Government announced that China’s military will send 1,400 medical staff from the armed forces to treat patients at a newly constructed hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, state media reported on Sunday.



Starting this week, staff from the People’s Liberation Army and army, navy and air force universities will be assigned to Huoshenshan Hospital, which will be dedicated to the treatment of coronavirus patients, Xinhua reported.



Experts on epidemic prevention and control have also been assigned to the hospital, which has a capacity of 1,000 beds. - dpa/Xinhua/Asian News Network

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