Beijing, Jan 23 (AFP) Authorities will suspend on Thursday flights and trains out of the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, state media said, after the death toll rose to 17.

The announcement came hours after the number of cases of the SARS-like coronavirus in China surpassed 500, with the majority in Wuhan, which is home to 11 million people.

"Without a special reason, city residents should not leave Wuhan", while outward flight and trains will be "temporarily" suspended, the central city's special command centre against the virus said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The move, effective at 10:00 am (0200 GMT), is meant to "resolutely contain the momentum of the epidemic spreading" and protect lives, according to the order cited by CCTV. (AFP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)