Chilling map shows where coronavirus has spread to around world

A chilling new map shows the explosive growth of the deadly new coronavirus as the epidemic spreads around the world.

The virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has lead to infections at least 13 other countries - including Australia, France and the US.

Now a new live tracking database and map of the coronavirus shows the difference just four days can make to the advance of the contagion.

Last week, the disease was limited to just 270 confirmed cases around China. As of Monday, this has jumped to nearly 3000 in China.

And an expert warns the true number of those affected could be as many as 100,000 people around the world, and will likely spread to more countries.

"There are very large numbers of Chinese tourists across Europe right now," Professor Neil Ferguson, a public health expert at Imperial College, told The Guardian.

"Unless the Chinese manage to control this, and I'm sceptical about whether that is possible, we will get cases here [in the UK]."

And New Zealand's Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, warns the likelihood of New Zealand getting a case is high.

"The likelihood of us getting a case is high and it may well be, as in Australia, that the person that is subsequently diagnosed had travelled and was asymptotic but developed symptoms a few days later. We may find ourselves in a similar situation," he said at a media briefing on Monday.

Dr Bloomfield said hospitals are preparing for admissions from severely ill people with the virus.