China says Wuhan pneumonia not Sars, but virus remains unidentified, more people hospitalised
- Total of 21 people who had been to Wuhan in the past 14 days admitted to Hong Kong hospitals, seven of whom have since been discharged
- Singapore reports first suspected case
Medical authorities in China said laboratory tests had shown the pneumonia outbreak in the central city of Wuhan was not caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) virus, but the origin remains unidentified, raising speculation it could be a previously unknown pathogen.
The WHO also refrained from recommending any travel or trade restrictions on China due to the outbreak, nor did it advise any specific measures for travellers.
Authorities in Wuhan – a city of 11 million people about a four-hour train ride from Hong Kong – said on Sunday that 59 people had been admitted to hospital with symptoms of the pneumonia, up from 44 on Friday. Although the number of infections had increased, there were fewer people in a serious condition, falling to seven from 11, according to a statement on the website of the Wuhan Municipal Commission.
Hong Kong health authorities said, six more patients who had visited Wuhan in the past 14 days had developed pneumonia-related symptoms between Sunday and noon on Monday.
These included a female Chinese University student and a two-year-old boy.