World- A Chinese physician who was
investigating the outbreak of a deadly new virus in central
China says he has himself been infected.
Wang Guangfa, who heads the Department of Pulmonary Medicine
at Beijing's Peking University First Hospital, was part of a
team of experts that earlier this month visited Wuhan, where the
virus emerged.
"I was diagnosed and my condition is fine," Wang told
Kong's Cable TV on Tuesday, thanking people for their concern.
The death toll from the flu-like coronavirus strain, which
officials have confirmed can be transmitted between humans, had
climbed to six as of Tuesday, with the number of reported cases
rising above 300. Fifteen medical personnel are among those
infected.
Wang, who conducted research on Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, said he was receiving treatment and
would receive an injection soon. He did not give details on how
he may have been infected.
"I don't want everyone to put too much attention on my
condition," he told the channel.
Wang told state media on Jan. 10 that the outbreak appeared
to be under control, with most patients showing mild symptoms
and some having been discharged.
He could not be reached by Reuters on Tuesday.