The mysterious disease originating from Wuhan continues to spread.

In an announcement on January 5th, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission (China) confirmed that a total of 59 cases of pneumonia of unknown origin have been reported in the city, with 7 in critical condition. Additionally, 163 people who had contact with the patients are being monitored. The Chinese Ministry of Health has closed and disinfected the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, where many cases of the disease were recorded.

Initial test results indicated that the causative agent was not a common respiratory virus strain such as seasonal influenza or influenza A, nor was it related to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), avian influenza, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) as initially suspected. However, to date, Wuhan has been unable to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.

The WHO said it is in close contact with Chinese national health authorities to monitor the situation. Authorities in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand have stepped up disease prevention measures at airports.

As of January 5th, the Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau had recorded 15 suspected cases of the mysterious pneumonia, all of whom had recently traveled to Wuhan. The increase of seven patients overnight (January 4th) prompted the Hong Kong authorities to activate a "serious response" level.

Hong Kong is stepping up its overall passenger prevention and control measures by installing additional infrared cameras at the airport and on trains from Wuhan to Hong Kong, as well as deploying staff to monitor and screen passengers.

The Bangkok Post reported on January 5th that Thailand has deployed thermal scanners for all passengers arriving from Wuhan, China, at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Chiang Mai airports. Passengers suspected of being infected will be quarantined and tested. In addition, any tourists showing suspected symptoms will be transported to a hospital by ambulance.

On January 6th, the National Focal Point for the Implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (under the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health of Vietnam) also announced that, in order to proactively prevent the disease from entering Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has directed the Departments of Health in provinces and cities to strengthen close monitoring of the disease situation at border gates, paying particular attention to close monitoring using remote body temperature scanners and observing the health status of all passengers entering the country who have a history of travel from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.

My Tong