Scientists discovered a new strain of coronavirus while investigating the cause of a mysterious pneumonia outbreak that's sickened dozens of people in central China, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Scientists used genetic sequencing to identify the strain from a patient sample. They found the same strain in other individuals sickened in the outbreak.
However, health officials have still not identified the new coronavirus strain as the definitive source of the outbreak, which started Dec. 12.
Several of the sickened individuals worked at a local market that sold live animals, spurring concerns that a new pneumonia strain has jumped from animals to humans. At present, health officials have not found any evidence of the strain spreading through human transmission.
The CDC on Jan. 6 issued a travel notice over the outbreak, urging any Americans visiting Wuhan, China, to avoid contact with animals, animal markets and any sick individuals.