Researchers call it a potential "game-changer"
There is still a lot to learn about this virus, but experts think that containing it should be treated as a priority.
See also: Diseases and infections that can kill you within 24 hours.
Airports across the world are screening passengers to try and prevent the virus from spreading. Some countries have even closed their borders.
Chinese authorities have strongly advised people not to travel to and from Wuhan.
WHO advises to avoid "unprotected" contact with infected animals, and to thoroughly cook meat and eggs.
It can be spread from person to person via coughing and sneezing.
It's thought to belong to the coronavirus family, of which SARS and MERS are also members.
It affects the lungs and can be fatal.
The incubation period (the time between infection and showing symptoms) is thought to be days rather than weeks.
It's an infectious virus that has never been seen in humans before.
While the majority of the confirmed cases are in mainland China, confirmed and suspected cases have now popped up across the world.
Main symptoms include difficulty breathing, fever, and coughing.
The virus can also lead to pneumonia, organ failure, and even death.
WHO also advises avoiding contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
The spread of the virus has been traced to the London-sized city of Wuhan in China.
However, measures can be taken to prevent it from spreading.
Since the virus is new, there is currently no vaccination against it.
Rightly so, everyone's talking about the coronavirus, or Covid-19, the virus spreading from Wuhan, China. Indeed, there's still a lot we don’t know about this virus, which has been labeled a new strain of the coronavirus.
Nonetheless, in this gallery you can discover what we know about the virus so far, and find advice on how to prevent infection. Click on.
Some countries have evacuated (or are making plans to evacuate) their citizens out of Wuhan.
According to Gao Fu, director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the market where the disease originated was conducting "illegal transaction for wild animals."
The outbreak of the virus is thought to have been caused by exotic wild animals, including bats and civet cats, and has been linked to a local market in Wuhan.
Wuhan is under almost complete lockdown, with some 60 million people under travel restrictions in Hubei province.
Covid-19: A breakdown of the new coronavirus
WHO has determined that "Covid-19" is the official name for the new coronavirus
HEALTH Viruses
Rightly so, everyone's talking about the coronavirus, or Covid-19, the virus spreading from Wuhan, China. Indeed, there's still a lot we don’t know about this virus, which has been labeled a new strain of the coronavirus.
Nonetheless, in this gallery you can discover what we know about the virus so far, and find advice on how to prevent infection. Click on.