What is the World Health Organization saying?published at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2020
In a press conference on Tuesday, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Christian Lindmeier said countries had to be prepared for the virus "literally knocking at the door".
Referring to whether it would announce a pandemic, he said many countries have pandemic plans and some may act on it depending on the situation.
However the WHO itself does not plan "a big announcement", he said.
A pandemic is when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in many parts of the world.
Mr Lindmeier said a mission to Iran, which had been announced for Tuesday, has been delayed and no date for its departure has been announced.