China's virus death toll rises to 304

China's death toll from a new virus increased to 304 on Sunday amid warnings from the World Health Organization that other countries need to prepare in the event the disease spreads among their populations, as more nations report local infections.

Figures from the National Health Commission showed an increase of 45 in the death toll and 2,590 in the number of cases, leading to a total of 14,380.

That is well above the number of those infected in the 2002-03 outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), which broke out in southern China before spreading worldwide.

With the outbreak showing little sign of abating, authorities in Hubei and elsewhere have extended the Lunar New Year holiday, due to end this week, well into February.

(Image Credit: AP)