HK Says Identifies Deadly Virus, Closes SchoolsBy Tan Ee Lyn and Tay Han Nee

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Scientists in Hong Kong said on Thursday they had identified the virus behind a mystery pneumonia that has killed more than 50 people worldwide as the government ordered schools in the city to close.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa also said the government had invoked a quarantine law not used for decades, and anyone breaking it would be fined or jailed for up to six months.

A day after Singapore took similar action, Tung said schools would shut for a week from March 29 to try to contain a rapidly spreading pneumonia that has infected about 1,300 in Asia, North America and Europe.

--This is some scary stuff man. A Steven King story waiting to happen.