Advertisement

Brisbane man tested for deadly coronavirus after visiting China

A Brisbane man is believed to be the first in Australia to be tested for the deadly coronavirus that has already killed four people.

Queensland Health confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the man had suffered from symptoms similar to those people experience when they contract the virus after returning from a trip to China.

He has since been placed in isolation in his home.

This strain of the SARS-like virus has infected hundreds of people in Wuhan, China, since December, when the World Health Organisation began responding to cases of unexplained pneumonia.

Medical staff walk to Jinyintan hospital, where the patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus are being treated. Source: Reuters
Medical staff walk to Jinyintan hospital, where the patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus are being treated. Source: Reuters

There have also been confirmed cases of coronavirus in other parts of China, as well as Thailand, South Korea and Japan. The majority of people affected have said they had travelled from Wuhan.

There are 222 confirmed cases, with mild cases believed to be going undetected.

It is believed the strain is from the same family as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Fears an Australian is infected with the virus comes after Australian border authorities boosted airport screenings of people returning from China, but health authorities say the risk to Australians is “relatively low”.

Symptoms of the virus include a cough, breathlessness, sore throat and high fever. More extreme cases can experience kidney failure, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and even death.

The virus has an incubation period of one week, which means symptoms may not be evident for seven days.

British tourist feared to be victim of coronavirus

A UK man has been struck down with pneumonia-like symptoms in Thailand, prompting fears he has been infected with the coronavirus.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with medical costs for Ash Shorley, 32, as he fights for his life in a Phuket hospital after a mystery bug infected his lungs while he was on Koh Phi Phi Island.

Ashley Shorley is fighting for life in Thailand after contracting pneumonia-like symptoms. Source: GoFundMe
Ashley Shorley is fighting for life in Thailand after contracting pneumonia-like symptoms. Source: GoFundMe

Doctors have not confirmed what the illness is, according to The Sun, but his symptoms are consistent with the coronavirus.

Mr Shorley was struck down with his illness on December 27, just a week into his trip around South East Asia.

With AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.