A mystery illness affecting a number of people in central China has sparked fear among medical professionals that it could lead to a deadly epidemic, reports The South China Morning Post. Doctors believe that the disease, which has not been identified, may be a new type of virus that is giving victims severe pneumonia.
Though no deaths have been reported, 44 people have currently been admitted to the hospital with the mystery virus. Of those, around 11 are in serious condition. In addition, 121 people who had been in contact with the sick have been placed under medical observation.
Doctors fear that it could quickly echo the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002-2003. The disease claimed the lives of 750 people — 349 in mainland China and an additional 299 in Hong Kong.
Currently, experts are scrambling to figure out if the virus is an extremely rare strain or if it is entirely new.
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