New China coronavirus could spread, WHO warns hospitals worldwideWHO said there may have been a limited human-to-human transmission of a new coronavirus in China within families. It has also warned that there could be a wider outbreak. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause infections from the common cold to SARS. 41 cases of pneumonia have been reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and one of the patients has died. There is no specific treatment for the new virus.