By the Associated Press:
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of new virus from China a global emergency after the number of infected people spiked more than tenfold in a week.
The United Nations health agency made the determination on Thursday as more cases of human-to-human transmission were being reported worldwide.
To date, China has reported more than 7,800 cases, including 170 deaths. Eighteen other countries have reported cases, as scientists race to understand how exactly the virus is spreading and how severe it is.
American Airlines pilots have sued their company to make it stop all flights to China immediately because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Allied Pilots Association union filed the lawsuit Thursday in state district court in Dallas. The union’s president is directing his members to reject assignments to fly to China, and for those there to leave the country as soon as they can.
In its lawsuit, the union is citing warnings by U.S. and international health experts. American has announced plans to suspend flights between Los Angeles and China beginning Feb. 9. It also flies to China from Dallas-Fort Worth.
