The coronavirus is continuing to spread across Asia, after a third person was reported dead and the disease spreads across four other countries after starting in China. Fears of a major outbreak have increased as the total number of people diagnosed comes to 205, with Japan, Thailand and South Korea also reporting cases.
With many travelling to celebrate the Chinese New Year and thousands of Britons heading the region, is it safe to travel?
Airport authorities in the US as well as many Asian countries, including Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea, have stepped up screening of passengers from Wuhan.
A spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO) told Express.co.uk: “Worldwide, there has been a total of 205 officially reported, confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV: 201 in China, two in Thailand, one in Japan and one in the Republic of Korea.
“Based on currently available information, there is no justification for any restriction of travel or trade.
In addition, Dr Nick Phin, the deputy director of the National Infection Service, said the current risk to the UK is “very low.”
“We are working with the WHO and other international partners, have issued advice to the NHS and are keeping the situation under constant review.
“People travelling to Wuhan should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and should seek medical attention if they develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of visiting the area.”
Professor Allen Cheng from Monash University’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine added that for those crossing borders, advice should be provided on what to look out for.
“This is because border screening isn’t very sensitive (people with infection don’t always have a fever when they pass the scanner) and aren’t specific (most people with a fever will have another infection, like influenza).”
Express.co.uk has approached Public Health England (PHE) and the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) for comment.
