Chinese stocks are having their worst day in more than eight months as the coronavirus spreads

Stocks in China are having their worst day in more than eight months as a deadly virus spreads across the country, causing officials to lock down Wuhan,the central Chinese city where it originated. China's Shanghai Composite (SHCOMP) fell nearly 3.2% Thursday afternoon, accelerating earlier losses. It's the index's worst single-day percentage drop since last May, when President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on China.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI) declined nearly 2.2%. The benchmark has lost more than 4% so far this week.Japan's Nikkei 225 (N225) slumped 1%, while South Korea's Kospi (KOSPI) decreased 0.9%.

China's coronavirus problem is getting worse. The death toll from the disease has jumped to 17. More than 500 people have been infected, mostly in mainland China, though the disease has spread as far as the United States. The World Health Organization could decide Thursday whether the spread of the virus constitutes "a public health emergency of international concern."

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