Chinese Doctor Li Wenliang Who Was Silenced for Forewarning On Coronavirus Outbreak Has Been Infected 

A doctor from Wuhan, who was targeted by police for trying to forewarn on the deadly coronavirus virus in the early weeks of the outbreak, is himself now infected with the virus, CNN reported.

Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, informed CNN from his intensive-care hospital bed that he had contracted the virus after coming into contact with an infected patient at Wuhan Central Hospital on January 10.

On Dec 30, Li informed his friends who are part of his medical school alumni group on the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat about the virus and requested them to caution their loved ones privately. But within hours screenshots of his messages had gone viral -- without his name being blurred.

Li worked in the Wuhan hospital were several cases of a SARS-like illness were identified in patients who had visited a seafood market in the city.

On Jan 3,Li was called to the local police station and reprimanded for "spreading rumors online" and "severely disrupting social order" over the message he sent in the chat group. The virus has since claimed at least 425 lives and sickened more than 20,000 people globally.

On Jan 12, Li's health condition took a turn for the worse and he was admitted to the intensive care unit, and given oxygen support. On February 1, he tested positive for coronavirus.