Airlines have begun suspending flights to and from China, as the World Health Organisation calls an urgent meeting over whether a viral epidemic that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 others should be declared a global health emergency.
Airlines began suspending flights to and from China Wednesday as the World Health Organisation called an urgent meeting over whether a viral epidemic that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 others should be declared a global health emergency.
A growing number of governments - including the United States, Britain and Germany - have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China.China has urged its own citizens to delay trips abroad, with at least 18 countries having confirmed cases of the disease. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has reduced flights, citing low demand and the city government's response plan to the virus.Meanwhile Kazakhstan, an important China trade partner, stopped issuing visas to Chinese citizens and said it would halt cross-border passenger train traffic and suspend flights.
"This is the first day since the lockdown that I've had to go out," a man in his 50s told AFP on the mostly deserted streets of the industrial city on Wednesday.Passengers wearing protective masks arrive at Sydney International AirportCountries have scrambled to get their citizens out of Wuhan safely, but have faced logistical, medical and bureaucratic hurdles.
Some 250 French citizens and 100 other Europeans will be flown out of Wuhan on board two French planes this week.
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