First Suspected Coronavirus Cases In UK As Flu Patients Undergo Urgent Testing

Five people in Scotland and one in Belfast are being tested for suspected coronavirus and there will be many more cases in other cities across the country, the head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh has said.

Professor Jurgen said tests are currently being carried out and none of the patients, at least three of whom are Chinese nationals, have been confirmed as having the disease.

Three travelled to Scotland from Wuhan, where the outbreak is thought to have originated, within the past two weeks and are showing symptoms of respiratory trouble, a red flag for the virus.

The other patient is being tested to rule out coronavirus at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, it is understood.

The patient arrived at the hospital showing symptoms which may be associated with the condition but it will be some time before test results are returned.

Professor Haas told the PA news agency the cases emerged overnight, adding: “The situation will be pretty similar in pretty much all UK cities with a large number of Chinese students.

“It’s not too surprising. My suspicious is that there will probably be many more cases in many other cities in the UK. None of the cases I know of have been confirmed.”

He said there is only one laboratory testing for the virus, operated by Public Health England (PHE).

Haas had initially said four people in Scotland were being tested.

The outbreak has killed 17 people and infected more than 630 in China as authorities around the world work to prevent a global pandemic.

On Thursday evening the World Health Organisation’s emergency committee has said it is “too early” to declare an international public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

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