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Public transport temporarily shut down in Wuhan in bid to stop spread of coronavirus

Public transportation is being temporarily shut down in the Chinese city of Wuhan, in a bid to st...
Newstalk
Newstalk

19.30 22 Jan 2020


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Public transport temporarily s...

Public transport temporarily shut down in Wuhan in bid to stop spread of coronavirus

Newstalk
Newstalk

19.30 22 Jan 2020


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Public transportation is being temporarily shut down in the Chinese city of Wuhan, in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak that began in the city.

17 people have now died after contracting the disease, which is continuing to spread.

More than 540 cases have been reported.

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Chinese state media reports that all buses, subway and ferry services are being temporarily closed from Thursday, with departing flight and train services also being cancelled.

Locals are also being urged not to leave the city.

Here, the HSE said no case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Ireland - adding that it is continuing to monitor the situation.

In a statement, the HSE said: "Based on current information... the risk from 2019-nCoV importation into EU and Ireland is deemed to be low at this time.

"Health authorities continue to monitor the situation and be advised by the World Health Organisation."

A number of countries have implemented passenger screenings at airports in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Dublin Airport, however, today said entry screening is not currently recommended at Irish airports as there are no direct flights between here and China.

They say they will continue to liaise with the HSE and follow all guidelines.

WHO meeting

Authorities at the World Health Organisation (WHO) are meeting this evening to decide whether to declare the outbreak a global health emergency.

The virus has already spread from Wuhan province to Beijing to Shanghai, with Chinese officials warning it is mutating and adapting.

Cases have also been detected in the US, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Coronaviruses are known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

A major SARS outbreak began in 2002 and 2003, killing nearly 800 people.

The Wuhan virus is known to cause pneumonia and does not respond to antibiotics.

While the origin of the virus has yet to be confirmed, the WHO has said it is likely the primary source was probably animal.

Chinese officials have linked the outbreak to Wuhan's seafood market.

Main image: Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China. Picture by: Dake Kang/AP/Press Association Images

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