China reports 2nd death from virus behind pneumonia outbreak

Source: AP

By YANAN WANG

BEIJING (AP) — A second person has died from a new coronavirus that has caused an outbreak of pneumonia in central China, health authorities said.

A 69-year-old man surnamed Xiong fell ill with the respiratory condition on Dec. 31, according to a statement late Thursday from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. He died Wednesday.

Xiong exhibited abnormal renal function, severe impairment in multiple organs, inflammation of the heart muscle and other pressing conditions when he was admitted to the hospital. It was not clear from the commission’s statement whether these were preexisting issues or consequences of the viral pneumonia.

In total, 41 people in Wuhan have been diagnosed with a novel coronavirus, a family of viruses that can cause both the common cold and more severe diseases like SARS and MERS. As of late Thursday, 12 patients have been cured and discharged and five were being treated for acute conditions.



A traveler wears a facemask as she stands near the Beijing Railway Station in Beijing, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. A second person has died from a new form of coronavirus in central China, health authorities said late Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)


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