The Chinese military has deployed 40 medical officers to support the fight against pneumonia at a hospital in Wuhan.

The Central Military Region of China today dispatched military personnel from Wuhan Army Hospital to join the new coronary pneumonia pandemic (nCoV). At least 40 officers have started work at the aggressive treatment department of Wuhan Lung Hospital, according to Chinese state television CCTV.

Epidemic pneumonia caused by nCoV first appeared in Wuhan City, capital of Hubei Province. A seafood and live animal market is identified as the outbreak center. As of today, the pandemic pneumonia has killed 26 people and about 880 cases worldwide. Outside of China, outbreaks have occurred in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Wuhan Health Committee said people were lining up at fever treatment centers and crowded hospitals. Seven hospitals are operating at full capacity with 3,000 beds dedicated to treating suspected and confirmed viral infections. Wuhan City is rushing to build a new hospital with 1,000 beds to treat pneumonia patients, expected to operate early next week.

China has partially closed the Great Wall and other famous landmarks in Beijing to control the spread of disease. A series of Chinese New Year festivals have also been canceled.