A simulation game for creating a pathogen in an effort to destroy the world with a deadly plague has been offline after regaining various players amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.

UK-based independent games studio Ndemic Creations said the company has seen a trend in increase of players when a disease spreads across the world.

Our website is currently offline due to very high player numbers. I'm copying our statement on the coronavirus outbreak here so people can still see it.https://t.co/pA6CUS7nJI pic.twitter.com/StXP6aemDe

— Plague Inc. / Rebel Inc. (@NdemicCreations) January 24, 2020

While players seek to know how current diseases spread and also understand the complexities of viral outbreaks, the gaming company reminded the public not to use the game to “sensationalize real-world issues.”

“We specifically designed the game to be realistic and informative, while not sensationalizing real-world issues. This has been recognized by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and other leading medical organizations around the world,” the company said.

The group also recommended players to get information directly from local and global health authorities.

“Please remember that Plague Inc. is a game, not a scientific model and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people,” the gaming studio said.

The 2019-nCoV has killed at least 212 people and infected some 7,800.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said late Thursday that it was declaring the 2019 -nCoV outbreak a global emergency, as cases spread to at least 18 countries.

• WHO declares global emergency as 2019-nCoV spreads quickly

The Department of Health has confirmed its first case of the pathogen: a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, where the virus first surfaced. -With a report from Agence France-Presse

• Philippines confirms first case of new coronavirus