BEIJING: Wuhan, a Chinese city of nearly nine million people, is to temporarily shut public transport in a bid to halt the outbreak of a new strain of virus.

Those living in the city have been advised not to leave, in a week when millions of Chinese are travelling for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

The respiratory illness has spread to other parts of China, with some cases in other countries including the US.

There are more than 500 confirmed cases and 17 people have died.

The virus is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans. The Sars virus has already claimed nearly 800 people globally in the early 2000s.

(Agencies)