WHO warns hospitals worldwide over further spread of China's coronavirus

There may have been limited human-to-human transmission of anewcoronavirusinChinawithin families, and it is possible therecouldbe a wider outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause infections ranging from the common cold to SARS. A Chinese woman has been quarantined in Thailand with a mystery strain ofcoronavirus, Thai authorities said on Monday, the first time the virus has been detected outsideChina.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

In all, 41 cases of pneumonia have been reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which preliminary lab tests cited by state media showedcouldbe from anewtype ofcoronavirus. One of the patients has died.

"From the information that we have it is possible that there is a limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission," said Maria Van Kerkhove, acting head ofWHO's emerging diseases unit.

TheWHOis, however, preparing for the possibility that therecouldbe a wider outbreak, she told a Genevanews briefing. "It is still early days, we don't have a clear clinical picture."

Some types of the virus cause less serious diseases, while others, like the one that causes MERS, are far more severe.

The UNagency has given guidance tohospitalsworldwideabout infection control in case thenewvirusspreads. There is no specific treatment for thenewvirus, but anti-virals are being considered andcouldbe "re-purposed", Van Kerkhove said.