The Mongolian health authorities have been warning about the risk of a mysterious virus spreading from China. Mongolia shares an important border with China and is an important rail and road transit country to Russia and Europe. There is major concern as the Chinese New Year approaches later this month; during the celebrations, there is a massive increase in the flow of passengers. This year, Mongolia’s Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) celebration again coincides with the Chinese holiday. This is the most important family festival, when, it seems, the whole country is on the move! The Mongolian health authorities have been advising people not to visit in China or to eat raw meat and fish products and to wear masks.

Chinese doctors have been unable to identify a mysterious strain of pneumonia that has infected dozens of people and put the rest of Asia on alert. A total of 59 cases of unknown viral pneumonia have been reported in the city of Wuhan, in central China, with seven patients in a critical condition, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said in a statement on Sunday. All patients are being put into quarantine; so far, no deaths have been reported. According to the Wuhan health commission, the infection broke out between December 12 and December 29; among some of those infected, were people working at the city’s seafood market.