The World Health Organization is due to hold an emergency session on Wednesday to study whether an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus in China constitutes an international emergency.
Experts will meet at the WHO headquarters in Geneva to discuss the spread of the virus from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where a pneumonia outbreak began last month.
China has reported more than 300 cases so far, including six deaths.
Infections have also been confirmed in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters on Tuesday that the virus was causing limited human-to-human infections between close contacts.
He said the assessment was based on the WHO's previous experiences with respiratory illnesses, in particular with other coronavirus outbreaks, and analysis of data shared with China.
Jasarevic said a team from the WHO has been sent to Wuhan to gather information from health officials in the city.
Once the outbreak is declared a "public health emergency of international concern," the WHO will advise countries to take rigorous steps, including tighter quarantine measures.
NHK
