China raises coronavirus death toll to 259

China's death toll from a new virus rose to 259 according to the country's National Health Commission.Speaking to the press on Saturday, National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng said that altogether there have been 17,988 suspected cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

The number of confirmed cases in China has risen to 11,791, surpassing the number in the 2002-03 outbreak of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

He added that they have also traced 136,987 people who had been in close contact with victims.Most cases reported so far have been people who visited China or their family members.

The virus' rapid spread in two months has prompted the World Health Organisation to declare it a global emergency.At least 23 countries have reported cases since China informed the WHO about the new virus in late December.

(Image Credit: AP)