World Health Organisation warns overseas virus spread may be 'tip of the iceberg'

The head of the World Health Organization has warned that confirmed cases of coronavirus being transmitted by peoplewhohave never travelled to China could be the "tipof theiceberg".

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' remarks come as members of aWHO-led "international expert mission" flew to China on Monday to help coordinate a response to the outbreak that has so far infected more than 40,000 people and killed 908 in the country.

Watch: Coronavirus Outbreak: World Health Organisation holds briefing

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While thevirus'spreadoutside China appeared to be slow, Ghebreyesus warned it could accelerate.

"Containment remains our objective, but all countries must use the window of opportunity created by the containment strategy to prepare for thevirus's possible arrival," he said.

Outside mainland China, there have been more than 350 infections reported in nearly 30 places. There have been two deaths, one in the Philippines and the other in Hong Kong.

Several countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights, and Air China cancelled some of its flights to the United States.

TheWHO-led mission to China is being headed up by Bruce Aylward, a veteran of previous health emergencies, Ghebreyesus said.Aylward oversaw theWHO's 2014-2016 response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

WHOsaid in recent days there had been "some stabilising" in the numbers of new cases of the coronavirus in China. But the UN agency cautioned it was too early to say if thevirushad peaked.

The SARS-likevirusis believed to have emerged late last year in the central city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province where millions of people are under lockdown in a bid to stop it spreading.