The shutdown includes all offices in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Google's offices in mainland China, where the company's services are not available, focus on sales and engineering for its advertising business.

The flu-like virus has killed over 130 people in China and has set-off alarm across the globe with companies closing stores, putting travel restrictions on employees and warning of a financial hit from slowing business in the world's most populous country.

(Reporting by Uday Sampath and Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)