No significant mutation of novel coronavirus so far: experts

There has been no significant mutation of the novel coronavirus so far based on data collected from 104 gene sequences which showed 99% homogeneity, Liang Wannian, head of the Chinese expert panel on outbreak response and disposal, said at a joint press conference with World Health Organization (WHO) experts in Beijing.

The presser was held following a week-long inspection conducted by the joint WHO-China panel starting February 16.

They visited Beijing, Guangdong and Sichuan Provinces as well Wuhan City, the epicenter of the virus outbreak.

WHO experts visit Wuhan, the COVID-19 epicenter

Briefing the media on the outcomes and findings, Liangsaid the host of the new virus is likely to be a bat and pangolin could be an intermediate host. Respiratory droplets and close contact were also cited as the main routes of transmission.

With regard to the demographic characteristics, Liang said the average age of infected patients is 51. Of the confirmed cases nationwide, 77.8% are aged between 30 and 69.

But he warned that all age groups are susceptible.

Another epidemiological characteristic of the new coronavirus is family aggregation, which accounted for 78% to 85%of all aggregation cases during the panel's inspection in Guangdong and Sichuan provinces, Liang told reporters.