China virus death toll tops 200 as WHO declares global emergency

The death toll from a new virus reached 213 on Jan. 31 and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency.

In a new travel advisory, the U.S. State Department raised its warning for China to the same level as Afghanistan and Iraq, saying on its website, "Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament the government had decided to raise its infectious disease advisory level for China, urging citizens to avoid non-urgent trips.

Japan's advisory for China's central province of Hubei, where the virus first emerged, is one level higher, advising citizens not to travel there.

Beijing has not commented on the U.S. travel warning, but in response to the WHO declaration, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said China had taken "the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures".

"We have full confidence and capability to win this fight against the epidemic," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

All air traffic between Italy and China will stop, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, taking a more drastic step than most countries, after Italy announced its first confirmed cases in two Chinese tourists.

More airlines have stopped flying to mainland China, including Air France KLM SA, British Airways, Germany's Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic, while others have cut flights.

Japan's ANA Holdings said it may consider suspending China flights, Jiji news agency said on Jan. 31, with the airline having said bookings for February flights leaving China had fallen by half. 

It is possible the White House could opt for further action and bar flights to China, but a U.S. official stressed that no...