World Health Organization warns of global coronavirus pandemic

As the death toll from the coronavirus in China has exceeded 1,000, the World Health Organization has warned of a global pandemic caused by the virus.

According to Reuters, authorities in Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, reported 108 deaths from the disease on Monday. Another 97 people died in the province on Sunday, bringing the total death toll to 1,016.

Also on Monday, the head of the World Health Organization told reporters in Geneva that the spread of the coronavirus outside China "could be a spark that becomes a fire." He added that humanity must not allow the pandemic to get out of control.

There are now 42,000 cases in China and 319 outside the country. One of the centers of the disease is a cruise ship docked off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, with 37,000 passengers and crew, and 135 cases have been identified on board.

According to the World Health Organization, there are concerns about human-to-human transmission outside of China.

Source: Voice of America