A new form of viral pneumonia which originated in Central China has created a scare in Asia.

At least a half-dozen countries in Asia and three US airports have started screening incoming airline passengers from central China as millions of Chinese travel for Lunar New Year holidays.

The list includes Thailand and Japan, which have together reported three cases of the disease in people who had come from Wuhan.

Seventeen more people have been diagnosed with pneumonia that has killed two patients. In total, 62 cases of the novel coronavirus have been identified in the city of Wuhan, where the virus appears to have originated.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission reported the new cases in a statement Sunday.

Nineteen of those individuals have been discharged from the hospital, while two men in their 60s — one with severe preexisting conditions — have died from the illness.

Eight are in critical condition.

Their initial symptoms were fever and cough.