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China reports 2nd death from new coronavirus behind pneumonia outbreak

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WUHAN, China – Chinese health authorities say a second person has died from a new coronavirus that has caused an outbreak of pneumonia in central China.

Health officials in the city of Wuhan say a 69-year-old man fell ill on Dec. 31 and died Wednesday. Before that, a 61-year-old man died last week.

In total, 41 people in Wuhan have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, a family of viruses that cause the common cold and more severe diseases like SARS.

Thailand and Japan have reported three cases as well, adding to fears that the virus will lead to other countries around the world.

On Thursday, health officials in Japan announced that a Chinese man in his 30s tested positive for the virus. He recently returned to Japan after traveling to Wuhan, The New York Times reports. Officials say he spent five days in the hospital but has since recovered and been discharged.

On Monday, Thailand authorities said the virus was detected in a 61-year-old Chinese woman who was visiting the country from Wuhan, The Times reports. She is reported to be in good health now.

Countries surrounding China are taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including quarantining patients with flulike symptoms and increasing temperature screenings at their airports.

Most of the people diagnosed with the new virus worked at or visited a particular seafood market in Wuhan that has since been closed for investigation and disinfection.