After suffering from cold like symptoms and fever in the range of 102 to 105 degrees for almost a week, Li Bin, a resident of Wuhan city in China, went to a hospital only to be quarantined with many other patients with similar unexplained symptoms.

The Chinese authorities are spending sleepless nights to figure out the mystery behind this this pneumonia like illness which is reminiscent of 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in China which killed over 800 people worldwide. Incidentally SARS had its origin in the City of Wuhan.

According to a statement issued by Wuhan health commission, the symptoms of this illness include high fever, difficulty in breathing and lung lesions. No deaths have been reported so far but seven people are said to be in critical condition.

Alarmed by the illness, which appeared just before the Spring Festival, China’s biggest holiday season when tens of millions of people travel across the country, the authorities have asked people to be on alert for pneumonia like symptoms which include high fever, body ache, and breathing difficulty.