41 Deaths from Wuhan Pneumonia... Doctor Dies and 2-Year-Old Girl Also Infected

Confirmed cases rapidly rise to 1,287
2-year-old girl infected in Guangxi Southern Autonomous Region

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The death toll from the novel coronavirus, known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' has risen to 41. Medical staff have died in Hubei Province, and confirmed cases have appeared in Southeast Asia and Europe, causing the virus to spread uncontrollably.

According to the National Health Commission of China on the 25th, the total number of deaths from Wuhan pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has increased by 15 from the previous day to 41. As of the 25th, the number of infected patients across 29 provinces in China has reached a total of 1,287.

On this day, otolaryngologist Dr. Liang Wudong (62), who worked at Xinhua Hospital in Hubei Province, passed away. Dr. Liang was presumed to have been infected with 'Wuhan pneumonia' on the 16th and was transferred to Jinyintan Hospital, a designated hospital, on the 18th, where he died while receiving inpatient treatment.

In the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, a 2-year-old girl who traveled from Wuhan to Hechi was confirmed to be infected. She is the youngest among the infected. Of the 41 deaths, 39 occurred in Hubei Province, and one each in Hebei Province and Heilongjiang Province.

Confirmed cases have also been reported in eight other countries including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Additionally, U.S. health authorities are monitoring over 60 people, and the first confirmed case in Europe was reported in France.

Malaysia also announced that three people?a Chinese woman in her 60s and her two grandchildren?were infected. They are from Wuhan and had entered Singapore before traveling to Malaysia. The husband of the woman in his 60s was confirmed positive in Singapore on the 23rd.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post and others, 20 hospitals in Wuhan, China, are requesting help due to shortages of masks, latex gloves, protective goggles, and surgical gowns. Wuhan health authorities stated plans to secure 10,000 beds across 24 hospitals to treat Wuhan pneumonia patients. Currently, 4,000 beds are in use, and the remaining beds are expected to be secured by the end of this month. Additionally, an emergency hospital with 1,000 beds is under construction.