Global growth is poised for a modest rebound to 3.3 percent this year, up from 2.9 percent last year, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement that the virus - a global health emergency - has disrupted economic activity in China and could put the economic recovery at risk. Alarm has been growing over the new virus as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to slow its spread, with major knock-on effects economically.

Georgieva told the two-day gathering in Saudi Arabia that the outbreak will shave about 0.1 percent from global growth and constrain China's growth to 5.6 percent this year.