China locks down city of 11 mln at epicentre of virus outbreak

China is putting on lockdown a city of 11 million people considered the epicentre of a new coronavirus outbreak that has killed 17 and infected nearly 600, as health authorities around the world scramble to prevent a global pandemic.

Health officials fear the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for Lunar New Year, which begins on Jan. 25.   

The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in China's central city of Wuhan.   

Cases have been detected as far away as the United States, stoking fears the virus is already spreading worldwide.    

Wuhan's local government said it would shut down all urban transport networks and suspend outgoing flights from 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Jan. 23, state media said. Domestic media said some airlines were operating after the deadline, however.   

State media broadcast images of one of Wuhan's key transport hubs, the Hankou rail station, nearly deserted, with gates blocked or barred. The government is urging citizens not to leave the city, except in special circumstances.    

Guards were patrolling major highways, one resident told Reuters, although the shutdown notice had not mentioned private cars leaving the city, while videos on social media showed long queues at gas stations.    

In contrast with its secrecy over the 2002-03 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that killed nearly 800 people, China's communist government has this time provided regular updates to avoid panic ahead of the holidays.   

Authorities had confirmed 571 cases and 17 deaths by the end of Jan. 22, China's National Health Commission...