WHO: Coronavirus outbreak 'getting bigger' and could spread worldwide

A man in a protective suit sanitises a water taxi as part of measures to try and contain a coronavirus outbreak, in Venice, Italy, on Friday (Feb 28). The rapid rise in Covid-19 cases is raising fears of a world pandemic warned experts from WHO on Friday. - Reuters

GENEVA/BEIJING: The rapid rise in Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases raised fears of a pandemic on Friday (Feb 28), with five countries reporting their first cases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning it could spread worldwide and Switzerland cancelling the giant Geneva car show.

World share markets crashed again, winding up their worst week since the 2008 global financial crisis and bringing the global wipeout to US$5 trillion.