Iran now emerges as virus hotspot

A FIFTH person has been diagnosed with coronavirus in NSW, according to the state government.

NSW Health has confirmed an adult male in his 40s has been diagnosed with COVID-19 following recent travel from Iran.

The agency said in a statement that the man has had “relatively mild symptoms but has been admitted to Westmead Hospital”.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the previous four patients had all been discharged from hospital – three were men aged 53, 35 and 43, while one was a 21-year-old female student from the University of NSW.

“This latest case arrived in Sydney from Iran on 22 February 2020,” Dr Chant said.

“He did not develop symptoms until 24 February 2020 and was seen at a hospital emergency department and tested on 28 February. He was advised to be isolated at home while waiting for the test result which was confirmed positive for COVID-19 late on 29 February.”

The case follows Queensland health authorities saying on Friday that a Gold Coast beautician, who recently returned from Iran, had tested positive for the disease.

Meanwhile, another NSW man in his 50s is also under investigation for possible COVID-19 based on preliminary laboratory results.

“Travellers from Iran should be particularly vigilant for symptoms as there has been a rapid increase in COVID-19 activity there in recent days,” Dr Chant said.

The Government yesterday started a travel ban for people coming from Iran.

Australia has 26 confirmed cases of the virus which emerged in Wuhan, China.

The US reported its first death from the illness on Saturday in a medical facility in a Seattle suburb.