MojNews- Hong Kong on Tuesday reported its first death due to the fatal novel coronavirus , known as 2019-nCoV, which originated in central China in December.

At least 426 people have died of the disease in China itself, China's CGTN news reported.

The deceased, 39, was a long-time diabetic who had traveled to Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus -- in January and returned home after two days, Hong Kong Free Press reported.

The autonomous region has reported 15 cases due to the virus which has affected over 20,000 others in China.

One person died of the same disease in the Philippines last Sunday.