Rising Fear of a Second SARS... Hong Kong Media: "Wuhan Pneumonia 80% Similar to SARS"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The first death from pneumonia that broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has been reported, and research results show that the pneumonia virus is very similar to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus. Among the 41 patients, one has died and seven are in critical condition, indicating that the disease's risk level is not low.

On the 12th (local time), the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that an international expert group consisting of Chinese medical staff and the University of Sydney in Australia analyzed the genome of the novel coronavirus identified as the cause of Wuhan pneumonia and reached this conclusion.

The researchers stated, "This novel coronavirus showed an 80% similarity to the SARS virus genome," and added, "Like SARS, it is possible that it originated from bats and attacked humans through a cell receptor known as 'ACE2.'"

A total of 41 patients have been reported in China with Wuhan pneumonia. Among them, one has died and seven are in critical condition. The first fatality was a man in his 60s who was declared dead on the 9th due to cardiac arrest. The novel coronavirus, which is presumed to be the cause, can infect mammals and birds besides humans.

Professor David Hui of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said, "This coronavirus likely originated from bats and then spread to other animals and humans at the Wuhan market, known as the source of the pneumonia outbreak." In fact, many of the Wuhan pneumonia patients were vendors at the Huanan Seafood Market, where wild animals such as snakes, pheasants, and rabbits were reportedly slaughtered and sold.

Warnings about the disease's risk level have also been raised. Professor Wen Guoyong of the University of Hong Kong stated, "The fact that one out of 41 patients with Wuhan pneumonia has died and seven are in critical condition means that the risk level of this disease is not insignificant."

So far, six types of coronaviruses have been identified. Among them, four are relatively common and usually cause mild symptoms similar to the common cold. The other two types are the SARS virus and the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus, which can cause severe respiratory diseases.

Fear of SARS remains high as it caused hundreds of deaths across China, including Hong Kong. SARS first emerged in Guangdong Province, China, bordering Hong Kong, at the end of 2002, and quickly spread to Hong Kong, infecting 1,750 people and causing 299 deaths. In China, over 5,300 people were infected, with 349 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.