Emeka Nweze
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals, including humans, and birds. A newly identified coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV has broken out in China, and is rapidly spreading to several other countries. Since its outbreak, the coronavirus has spread rapidly with 56 deaths and more than 2,000 cases recorded so far.
Here are all the countries affected by the virus.
Australia
The first case of the coronavirus reported in Australia was on January 25 from a man who arrived in Melbourne from China a week ago. Later that day, authorities said three men in Sydney who had recently arrived from China had tested positive for the disease and were in isolation in local hospitals. Authorities said they were contacting people who had traveled on the same plane from China and offering advice.
China
The disease originally broke out in Wuhan China between December 12 and 29, and as of January 26, 1,975 people had been confirmed infected across China, most of them in and around Wuhan. there have also been cases reported in the city of Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists and in Hong Kong where there have been six confirmed cases and 380 suspected cases.
France
France is the first European country to be affected by the virus with three confirmed cases. The first, a 48-year-old man who recently traveled to Wuhan and returned to France via the Netherlands. The remaining two have been hospitalised and in Paris, one of whom is a relative of one of the other infected patients in France. All three have been placed in isolation. More cases still expected to come up according to France’s health minister and authorities are keenly observing all the people that the patients have come into contact with after arriving in France.
Japan
Japan’s first case was reported by the health ministry in a man who had visited Wuhan and was hospitalised on January 10, four days after his return to Japan. The second patient was a man in his 40s who was originally from Wuhan and on a trip to Japan. The third and fourth cases were reported on 25th and 26th January respectively
Malaysia
Malaysia has four confirmed cases as of January 25, all Chinese nationals on holiday from Wuhan. The most recently confirmed was a 40-year-old man who was being treated in hospital. Three of the affected patients, a 66-year-old woman and two boys, aged two and 11, were in a stable condition and being kept in an isolation ward at a public hospital, Malaysia’s health minister said.
Nepal
Nepal authorities reported that a 32-year-old man arriving from Wuhan had tested positive for the deadly disease. However, having been initially quarantined, he eventually recovered and was discharged. The government said that surveillance has been increased at the airport “and suspicious patients entering Nepal are being monitored”.
Singapore
Singapore has announced at least three cases – a 66-year-old man and his 37-year-old son, who arrived in Singapore on January 20 from Wuhan, and a 52-year-old Wuhan woman, who arrived in the city-state on January 21.
South Korea
South Korea reported its first case on January 20, in a 35-year-old woman who flew in from Wuhan. The second case was found in a South Korean man in his 50s who returned from working in Wuhan was confirmed as the second case on January 24. As of January 26, a third case of the virus has been confirmed by the South Korean authorities.
Taiwan
Taiwan has reported three cases so far and strong measures have been put in place to contain it. Authorities have advised against travel to Wuhan and Hubei province and on January 24 said any arrivals from Wuhan would be rejected by immigration. More o, all arrivals from the rest of China – including Hong Kong and Macau – must fill out health declaration forms on arrival.
Thailand
Thailand has detected eight cases so far. Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on January 26 that three of the people infected were being treated, while five had recovered and gone home.
United States
A man in his 30s living near Seattle was reported as the first confirmed case in the US on January 21. Since then, a woman in her 60s living in Chicago was confirmed and by January 26, the US announced a third confirmed case in Orange County, California.
Vietnam
Vietnam on January 23 confirmed two cases of the virus: an infected man from Wuhan travelled to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this month and passed the virus on to his son. Both were being treated in hospital and are stable, Vietnamese health officials said.
Source: Aljazeera
