The World Health Organization (WHO) has started investigating a conference conducted in Singapore after at least three employees of a multinational company were found to have infected by the new coronavirus.
South Korea and Malaysia have reported three confirmed cases of the virus after they were involved in the company’s meeting that was attended by 94 overseas staff at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore.
On Wednesday, Singaporean health officials said four people who attended the meeting were showing signs of illness. However, the officials did not reveal the company’s name that conducted the meeting.
Malaysian health officials said the meeting was attended by some people from China, including one from Wuhan, where the outbreak started in December.
Olivia Lawe Davies, WHO’s Regional Communications Manager, told Reuters, “WHO is coordinating with relevant ministries of health in relation to it. As countries are stepping up surveillance, the detection of more cases of local transmission can be expected.”
So far, Singapore has reported 28 confirmed cases, Malaysian reported 12, and South Korea reported 23.
In China, total confirmed cases have reached up to 28,018, with 563 deaths. In the United States, 12 confirmed cases have been reported so far.
The WHO has expressed concern over the new coronavirus, aka 2019-nCoV, stating that it could cause a much larger outbreak because the cases linked to the Singapore conference provide more evidence that the virus is highly contagious as it is spreading easily from humans to humans.
Malaysian health officials first reported the case linked to the Singapore conference and then South Korea reported two people who attended the conference.
Of the 15 attendees from Singapore, four have been sent to its National Centre for Infectious Diseases, according to Singapore health ministry.
Gerald Kheng, Grand Hyatt Hotel’s spokesperson, said the hotel has been deep cleaned after they were informed about the cases. Kheng also said they are not aware of any cases among staff or guests so far.
Meanwhile, several organizations in Singapore have suspended their business meetings and media events. However, Singapore Airshow is expected to go ahead next week even though on a smaller scale.
