Beijing: The death toll in China's novel coronavirus virus has gone up to 17 with the confirmed infection cases sharply rising to 543 the health authorities said on Wednesday, warning that the disease could spread further in the ongoing Chinese holiday season during which millions travel at home and abroad.

The Chinese health authorities announced on Wednesday that 543 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had been reported in 13 provincial-level regions in the country by the end of Tuesday.