The new virus that last month was discovered in China and can cause a dangerous lung disease, has made a first fatal victim.
This is a 61-year-old man from the eastern metropolis of Wuhan, the authorities report there. Seven others are still in the hospital in critical condition and a total of 41 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Wuhan.
The virus is a variant of the so-called corona virus and is related to the SARS and MERS virus. More research is needed into the new variant, for example, the incubation period is unknown and it is unclear whether it can be transferred from person to person. According to the authorities, no new infections have occurred since 3 January.
The first victim was a man who had probably contracted the virus at a market in Wuhan where fish, birds and other animals were sold. Presumably more people have been infected there. The victim was not already healthy; the man had tumors in his abdomen and a chronic liver disease.
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