An outbreak of a new kind of viral disease in China has led to widespread concern about the risks involved and fears of an official cover-up. A 2002-03 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) killed more than 800 people after Chinese officials covered up new cases for months, greatly worsening its spread. That has raised questions over Beijing’s handling of the latest outbreak that began in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.
What caused the outbreak?
After a patient in Wuhan sought medical help for pneumonia-like symptoms on December 8, dozens of people in the city displayed similar symptoms, mainly fever and breathing difficulties.