As the first case of person to person transmission of the coronavirus has been reported in the U.S., the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday labeled the virus a global health emergency.

WHO stated the main reason for their announcement was the spread of the disease to countries outside of China.

Russia has shut down its long border with China and international flights continue to avoid the country.

Inside China millions are quarantined and whole regions are under strict restrictions regarding public transportation and meetings.

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As rumors fly that the virus is a Chinese biowarfare weapon gone awry, nations all over the Earth are taking stringent measures to guard their populations against the deadly strain.

The coronavirus has killed 170 people in China as of Thursday and has infected 7,711, the Chinese government reports. The number of cases in the last 24 hours has grown by over 20% and climbing.

16 countries are known to be affected, with 6 cases now in the U.S. Common symptoms of the virus first appear as the flu but then increase in respiratory severity until hospitalization is warranted.

Information though is limited at best because the Chinese are not allowing any foreign medical personnel into China to research and combat the disease.