China virus: no contagion among Wuhan Italians-embassy

(ANSA) - Beijing, January 24 - No Italians in Wuhan have caught the mystery SARS-like coronavirus that broke out in the Chinese city and has so far caused the deaths of 26 people, the Italian embassy in Beijing said Friday.
    The embassy denied media reports that a Veneto student, Petra Vidali, had been infected.
    "There is no evidence of any case of contagion (of Italians) by the coronavirus nCOV-2019, the embassy said in a statement.
    "Ms Vidali has been contacted again and she confirms she is well". The statement said the embassy was "in constant contact with all co-nationals present in Wuhan, including Ms Petra Vidali".
    China has shut down Wuhan and other cities in the Hubei province, which is the center of the outbreak of the newly identified coronavirus.
    A scattered number of cases have been confirmed in other countries, but their are fears that during the travel and festivities accompanying Lunar New Year starting this weekend the virus could spread more widely.
    Fever scanners have been set up at Rome's Fiumicino Airport.