Robert Rodriguez/CNET A novel virus first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December has claimed more than 300 lives and infected about 14,500 people . The virus, currently dubbed 2019-nCoV, was pinned down after a spate of pneumonia-like illnesses appeared in the Chinese province of Hubei. It was first reported to the World Health Organization on Dec. 31 and in the intervening month scientists have linked the disease to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses , which include the deadly SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome. On Jan. 30, a special WHO committee declared a public health emergency of international concern, citing "the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems." Human-to-human transmission has been confirmed outside China, including in the US, leading authorities around the world to begin limiting travel and enforcing quarantines to guard against the spread. On Jan. […]