A fourth person has died of from an outbreak of a new coronavirus strain in Wuhan, China, as health officials confirmed Monday the number of cases that originated in the city in early January has more than tripled to 218, Channel News Asia reports.
Why it matters: Chinese health officials also confirmed that the pneumonia-like virus can be passed from person-to-person, raising the prospect of more cases emerging this week as millions begin traveling across the country for the annual Lunar New Year holiday.
The big picture: South Korea, Japan and Thailand have confirmed at least one case of the the new virus. The patients had all traveled from the Wuhan area, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- In Australia, a man in Brisbane was being treated in isolation after presenting to a hospital in Queensland's state capital with symptoms of the virus after returning from a vacation in China, authorities confirmed to News.com.au.
- The number of infected patients jumped to 198 on Monday, from 62 on Sunday, Wuhan health authorities said. 35 of the patients were in severe condition, while nine were critical.
- China has confirmed additional cases in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, three of country's largest cities.
What they're saying: Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday the country will curb the outbreak.
- "People's lives and health should be given top priority and the spread of the outbreak should be resolutely curbed," he said, according to the New York Times.
What's next: The World Health Organization said Monday it will convene an emergency committee on Wednesday to determine if the outbreak constitutes an international emergency, NYT reports.
Go deeper: U.S. to begin airport screening for new China virus as concerns grow
