Authorities this week said they were investigating 27 cases of infection after rumours on social media suggested the outbreak could be linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome .The organisation says it is in contact with the Chinese government about it.
Chinese municipal health officials in Wuhan said in a statement on their website on Friday that they had ruled out common respiratory diseases, such as influenza, bird flu and adenovirus infection, as the cause. The officials say clean-up efforts at a seafood market where some victims were vendors have been completed and no obvious human-to-human transmission had been seen; nor has any medical staff been infected.
In 2003, Chinese officials covered up a SARS outbreak for weeks before a growing death toll and rumours forced the government to reveal the epidemic, apologise and vow full candour regarding future outbreaks.