The first confirmed case of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus outside China has been reported from Vietnam, according to information posted on the World Health Organization (WHO) website on January 24. The novel coronavirus infection has been confirmed in a person who has not travelled to any part of China but only came in contact in Vietnam with a confirmed case who had visited Wuhan. “At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China,” he said. Listen | China coronavirus: What we know so far | The Hindu In Focus podcastAccording to the Situation Report-4 posted on the WHO website on January 24, there have been 830 confirmed cases in China and 25 deaths. “During previous outbreaks due to other coronavirus (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)), human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets, contact and fomites, suggesting that the transmission mode of the novel coronavirus can be similar.”

Source: The Hindu January 25, 2020 05:23 UTC