US health agency warns against non-essential China trips

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising against all non-essential travel to China, saying there is a cluster of cases of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in China's Hubei province.

The cause is not yet known, nor is the mode of transmission, the CDC says. It issued a 'Level 3,' warning and a 'level 2' alert advising greater precautions.

The cluster is centered at the Wuhan South China Seafood City (also called the South China Seafood Wholesale Market and the Hua Nan Seafood Market), the CDC says. In addition to seafood, the market sells chickens, bats, marmots, and other wild animals. The market has been closed since January 1, 2020, for cleaning and disinfection.

Travelers to Wuhan, China, should avoid living or dead animals, animal markets, and contact with sick people. The situation is evolving, the CDC says. 

Although the cause and transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, CDC is recommending a cautious approach to symptomatic patients with a history of travel to Wuhan.