Bangladesh, Jan. 23 -- previously unknown to science - is causing severe lung disease in China and has also been detected in other countries, reports BBC.

At least 17 people are known to have died from the virus, which appeared in the Chinese city Wuhan in December.

There are already hundreds of confirmed cases of the virus, and experts expect the number will keep rising.

A new virus arriving on the scene, leaving patients with pneumonia, is always a worry and health officials around the world are on high alert.

But is this a brief here-today-gone-tomorrow outbreak or the first sign of something far more dangerous?

What is this virus?

Officials in China have confirmed the cases are being caused by a coronavirus.

These are a broad f...