University of Hong Kong medical experts: Tens of thousands likely infected now

Medical experts from the University of Hong Kong warned on Monday that governments should implement "draconian measures" to limit the spread of the new Wuhan virus, saying the number of cases is likely to be far higher than reported.

The dean of the university's medical school, Gabriel Leung, said his team has estimated that as of Saturday, some 44,000 people in Wuhan alone were likely to have been infected by the new virus.

Around 25,000 of these were likely to be sick, with the others only in the incubation stage and not yet showing symptoms.

With the estimated infection figure drastically higher than the mainland's latest official tally of 2,744 confirmed cases – and infections now reported in around a dozen countries – the HKU experts said a global epidemic could be imminent.

Leung said to date, the number of people catching the virus is believed to have been doubling every 6 days.

He said the mainland's outbreak is expected to peak in Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in April or May, and it could subside gradually around June and July.
RTHK News