Coronavirus outbreak: What we know so far about the new China virus

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A new SARS-like virus has killed 17 people in China, infected hundreds and reached as far as the United States, with fears mounting about its spread as hundreds of millions travel for Lunar New Year celebrations, which start Friday. Many countries have stepped up screening of passengers from Wuhan, the Chinese city identified as the epicentre, and the World Health Organization has called an emergency meeting. Here's what we know so far about the virus:

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It's entirely new: The pathogen appears to be a never-before-seen strain of coronavirus — a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003. (Reuters Photo)

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On Friday, Seoul's health ministry said a South Korean man in his 50s started experiencing symptoms while working in Wuhan on Jan 10.

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It's being passed between humans: The WHO said Monday it believed an animal source was the "primary source" of the outbreak, and Wuhan authorities identified a seafood market as the centre of the epidemic. (AP Photo)

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It is milder than SARS: Compared with SARS, the symptoms appear to be less aggressive, and experts say the death toll is still relatively low. However, the milder nature of the virus can also cause alarm. (AP Photo)

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The Chinese government announced it was classifying the outbreak in the same category as the SARS outbreak, meaning compulsory isolation for those diagnosed with the disease and the potential to implement quarantine measures on travel. (AP Photo)

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The outbreak comes as China prepares for the Lunar New Year holiday, with hundreds of millions travelling across the country to see family. (AP Photo)

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Global precautions: As the number of confirmed deaths and infections has risen, so has concern worldwide about the disease spreading to other countries. (Reuters Photo)