As the death toll in China has topped 1000, health officials say the coronavirus epidemic could spread to around two-thirds of the world’s population if it cannot be controlled. A Hong Kong health official says recent cases of patients who have never visited China could be the “tip of the iceberg”. Most experts thought that each person infected would go on to transmit the virus to around 2.5 other people. That gave an “attack rate” of 60-80%. 7 Canadians have lab confirmed cases.