Global spread of coronavirus raises pandemic fears

A medical worker takes a rest outside a hospital in Daegu, South Korea, February 23, 2020. Yonhap via REUTERS

SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) - Fears mounted on Monday that the coronavirus outbreak in China will grow into a pandemic with disruptive and deadly consequences for countries around the world, after sharp rises in infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

A surge of infections outside mainland China triggered steep falls in Asian share markets and Wall Street stock futures as investors fled to safe havens such as gold. Oil prices tumbled and the Korean won fell to its lowest since August.