Only a handful of children have been diagnosed with the coronavirus — and experts have a few guesses as to why

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• Only a handful of children have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, which has killed nearly 2,800 people and infected more than 81,000.
• A study found that only nine infants were infected in China from December 8 to February 6. 
• Disease experts say it's good that the virus hasn't spread much among kids because children are less likely to wash their hands and cover their mouths — behaviors that can spread germs.
• For the latest case total, death toll, and travel information, see Business Insider's live updates here.
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Scientists are still learning about the coronavirus outbreak that has killed nearly 2,800 people and infected more than 81,000 in China. One of the biggest mysteries is why so few children have gotten sick.

The outbreak was first reported on December 31, but no children younger than 15 years old had been diagnosed as of January 22. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine said at the time that "children might be less likely to become infected or, if infected, may show milder symptoms" than adults.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• The new coronavirus has killed nearly 3 times as many people in 8 weeks as SARS did in 8 months. Here's how the 2 outbreaks compare.
• Coronavirus is spreading fast on a cruise ship of 3,700 people quarantined off Japan, where 61 people have tested positive so far
• Photos show how China is grappling with the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak as 16 cities are quarantined and hospitals run out of space

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