An unknown type of pneumonia, later identified as a new strain of coronavirus, originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province, in late December and since then, has reached several other countries.
The first case of deadly coronavirus has been registered in Australia, Victoria state health officials reported on Saturday.
The patient who was taken to hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, is a Chinese national who arrived in Australia last week, according to Health Minister Jenny Mikakos.
In China, the number of confirmed cases has reached 1,287, while the death toll currently stands at 47. In total, 29 Chinese provinces have been affected, China’s National Health Commission says.
Since the new type of coronavirus was identified in China’s city of Wuhan, other confirmed cases of the deadly virus have been reported in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Nepal, and the United States.
The Chinese authorities earlier confirmed the Wuhan coronavirus can be transmitted from human to human.
