Mysterious pneumonia cases in China have health agencies on high alert

A cluster of cases of a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan, China, has infectious disease watchers worried. A statement from the local health authority saying “an unknown virus” is the cause is setting off flashbacks to the 2003 SARS outbreak, when a new coronavirus swept through southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, and Toronto, Canada. More than 8,000 contracted SARS and roughly 800 died. At least 27 people have been infected in this new outbreak, which appears to be linked to a seafood market that also reportedly sold animal meats. The SARS coronavirus, which likely originated in bats, is believed to have been transmitted to people by civet cats, which are eaten as a delicacy in southern China. A WHO spokesman said yesterday that the agency has been communicating with the Chinese government about the outbreak and investigations are underway.