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New China virus 'could mutate and spread further' New China virus 'could mutate and spread further'
(32 minutes later)
The new virus could mutate and spread further, Chinese health officials warn, as they step up containment measures. The new virus could mutate and spread further, Chinese health officials have warned, as they step up containment measures.
It comes as the government said the death toll from the coronavirus had risen to nine with 440 confirmed cases. The death toll has risen to nine with 440 confirmed cases, they said.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. A National Health Commission official admitted that the country was now at the "most critical stage" of prevention and control.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. On Tuesday, authorities confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the virus had taken place.
In one of the first public briefings since the beginning of the outbreak, National Health Commission vice-minister Li Bin said there was evidence that the disease was "mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract".
But China has still not been able to confirm the exact source of the virus.
"Though the transmission route of the virus is yet to be fully understood, there is a possibility of virus mutation and a risk of further spread of the epidemic," said Mr Li.
The warning comes as millions of people across China are travelling within the country for the Lunar New Year week-long holiday. Thousands are also travelling abroad.