A mysterious SARS-like virus has killed a third person, spread around China and reached a third Asian country, authorities said Monday, fuelling fears of a major outbreak as millions begin traveling for the Lunar New Year in humanity's biggest migration.

Axar.az reports AFP News that the new coronavirus strain, first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has caused alarm because of its connection to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

No human-to-human transmission has been confirmed so far, but authorities have previously said the possibility "cannot be excluded".