Australia on high alert after increased risk of Coronavirus spreading from China
One of China’s top health experts is warning of the potential for “super-spreaders” to worsen the impact of the new coronavirus strain, which can now be passed from human to human.
Zhong Nanshan, the leader of an expert team sent to the city of Wuhan to investigate the deadly virus, spoke to the South China Morning Post there was evidence one patient alone had spread the disease to 14 medical workers.
300 corona virus infections have been confirmed, with six deaths. The majority of cases have occurred in China, but people have also been diagnosed in Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
It has recently been confirmed that the virus has reached the US, with a man in his 30s being treated in a Seattle hospital after he spent time in China.
A man in Brisbane was tested after returning from Wuhan with flu-like symptoms, but was released from home isolation because he wasn’t displaying symptoms of the virus.
Sydney Airport is on high alert as they assess passengers for coronavirus.
Currently, there are three flights into Sydney each week from Wuhan, China, where the illness originated, and starting from Thursday, medical professionals will be present at the airport as they look to diagnose passengers.
“If people have [flu-like symptoms], present to biosecurity staff and NSW Health will be there to assist and assess to determine if they need further testing,” said health protection director Jeremy McAnulty.
“Symptoms of the virus include a fever with respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.”