(Yicai Global) Dec. 31 -- Twenty-seven cases of pneumonia caused by an unknown viral infection have surfaced in Wuhan, the largest city in central China. Seven of the patients are in serious condition, and the remaining cases are stable and controllable, per the latest information the city's National Health Commission released at midday.

Investigators have thus far not uncovered any manifest human-to-human transmission or infection of medical staff. Detection of the pathogen and investigation of the cause of the infection are ongoing.

A greater frequency of those patients of pneumonia was found among vendors in a local seafood market.

Editor: Ben Armour