but Chinese officials quickly realized

it was a new kind of virus.

One that could cause infections in animals and humans.

-This new coronavirus

was initially traced to live animals.

-The Chinese confirming that it is now spreading

from human to human.

-By mid January, less than a month

after it had emerged in Wuhan, China,

at least 17 people have died,

hundreds have been infected across Eastern Asia,

and one case was confirmed in the US.

-Most people are actually stressed

because their flights have been canceled.

-But why has the coronavirus, a type of respiratory virus,

causing global concern?

-A respiratory virus is what infectious disease

experts fear the most because you cough, you sneeze,

you're in the same airspace and it can spread very quickly.

-Just like the measles outbreak in 2019.

-That's why measles is the most contagious disease on earth

because those droplets can hang in the air for two hours

and if you haven't been vaccinated

and you walk through in two hours,

90 percent chance that you will get sick.

-It's unclear how easily the new virus spreads.

And lack of information only adds to the confusion.

There is, however, actual concerns that this outbreak

will be similar to the SARS epidemic in 2002,

where the virus spread from China

to more than a dozen countries.

That time, over 8,000 people were infected

and more than 700 people died.

But why are pandemics, like this one, Zika,

and Ebola continuing to emerge in the same parts of the world?

-Emerging diseases come from specific regions on the planet.

We call them the hot spots for emerging disease.

Places like Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central West Africa,

and Latin America,

these are areas where there are a lot of wildlife,

a lot of diversity.

When humans come into contact with those wildlife species,

we have a chance at picking up the viruses.

-Since the SARS epidemic, many countries,

including the US, have implemented multiple plans

to stop the spread of these type of viruses.

-I think health officials think that we are much better

prepared now, especially after Ebola.

Chinese scientists were able to sequence

the genome of this virus very quickly,

post it online, for people to see,

and when that's shared, that information,

scientists can work very hard to figure out diagnostics.

-Chinese authorities have shutdown rail and bus lines,

canceled hundreds of flights,

and cut off highways from the epicenter of the outbreak.

And to protect against infection from this and other viruses,

the CDC recommends basic hygiene techniques.

Like constantly washing hands, staying hydrated,

and coughing into one's arm or a tissue.