Foreign HEALTH

Rapid spread of Coronavirus raises fears of global pandemic

Written by Yusuf Zubairu
Coronavirus

Report says Fears are growing that the coronavirus outbreak could become a pandemic as new cases are reported around the world.

Most infections are in China but other countries including South Korea, Italy and Iran are battling to contain the virus which causes the respiratory disease Covid-19.

No vaccine is available so far to prevent the new coronavirus.

About 77,000 people in China, where the virus emerged last year, have been infected and nearly 2,600 have died.

More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in 26 other countries and there have been eight deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

On Monday Afghanistan, Kuwait and Bahrain reported their first cases, all involving people who had returned from Iran.BBC