China has confirmed the coronavirus that took the lives of three people has spread between humans.
According to the National Health Commission team, 14 doctors caught the SARS-like virus while treating patients.
Two other patients also caught the killer infection from infected family members, according to reports.
It was believed that the outbreak came from an animal source at a seafood market in Wuhan city. Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market has been under investigation as experts do their best to determine where the killer virus has come from.
It has been confirmed that the virus could be transmitted from one person to another through sneezing, coughing or other bodily fluids.
222 people in Asia have tested positive for the virus, most are from China. Other countries that have reported cases of the virus are South Korea, Thailand, and Japan.
Professor Zhong Nanshan, a scientist at National Health Commission, said in a press conference: “Currently, it can be said it is affirmative that there is the phenomenon of human-to-human transmission.
“It has also been proved that medical workers had been infected… [They] worked around a patient carrying the new strain of coronavirus… and 14 of them in total.”
The two patients who never visited Wuhan have contracted the virus from their infected family members.
The World Health Organization said an animal source seemed to be ‘the most likely primary’ source.
Also called ‘zoonotic disease,’ it was believed germs had spread from animals in the food market to visitors or workers.
A professor of health protection at the University of East Anglia, Paul Hunter, said to MailOnline: “If it’s going to cause problems around the world, it has got to spread from person to person. If it’s from an animal, it won’t be as important.”
The coronavirus was first discovered in the Wuhan city in December. It is from the same family as two killer viruses: MERS and SARS, both of which can be transmitted between humans.
What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments section! SHARE this with your friends and family and don’t forget to FOLLOW our page for more updates and stories!
Replaced!