Coronavirus: Four people tested in Scotland – and more UK cases feared
Written by News on 23/01/2020
Four people in Scotland are being tested over concerns they may have the deadly coronavirus.
Professor Jurgen Haas, head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh, confirmed three cases are in the Scottish capital and the other is believed to be in Glasgow.
And he warned that he believes there will be many more cases from other cities in the UK.
Tests on the four patients in Scotland are currently being carried out and none have so far been confirmed as having the disease.
They all travelled to Scotland from Wuhan in China, where the outbreak is thought to have originated, within the past two weeks and have shown symptoms of respiratory trouble, a red flag for the virus.
The coronavirus outbreak has so far killed 17 people and infected nearly 600.
Prof Haas said: “We have currently three cases suspected Wuhan coronavirus in Edinburgh and as far as I understand one case in Glasgow.
“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.”
Prof Haas said there is only one laboratory testing for the virus, operated by Public Health England (PHE).
He added that the cases have been flagged up through the PHE infection guidelines as they travelled to Wuhan within the last 14 days and are showing signs of respiratory symptoms.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the NHS is “ready to respond appropriately” to any cases of coronavirus that emerge in the UK.
He told the Commons on Thursday that while “there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them”.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, is in contact with international experts and his counterparts to monitor the situation, Mr Hancock added.
More than 570 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, with the vast majority in China. Other cases have been reported in the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Chinese government has effectively locked down Wuhan, cancelling planes and trains there and in the nearby city of Huanggang.
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Four people tested in Scotland – and more UK cases feared
