China warns Wuhan virus could mutate, spread as death toll rises

Masked pedestrians walking down a shopping street in downtown Wuhan, China. - AP

BEIJING (AFP): A new virus that has killed nine people, infected hundreds and already reached the United States could mutate and spread, China warned Wednesday (Jan 22), as authorities scrambled to contain the disease during the Lunar New Year travel season.

The coronavirus has caused alarm for its similarity to Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.