Poster plea as cases of mystery virus in China rise
POSTERS warning about a mystery virus in China should be displayed at airports as travellers prepare to head there for the country’s New Year celebrations, experts have said.
More than 60 cases of the new virus have been confirmed, which emerged in Wuhan city, central China, in December.
However UK experts estimate that it is closer to 1,700, including two deaths. Singapore and Hong Kong are screening air passengers from Wuhan and US authorities announced that similar measures are starting at three airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Chinese New Year, on January 25, is expected to see even more people heading to the country.
Two cases have been identified in Thailand and one in Japan.
Professor Robert Dingwall, an expert in virology at the University of Nottingham, said: “There are several flights a week to this area from the UK and the incubation period means it is possible for an infected person to get on to a plane inwuhan and get off in the UK.
“It may be that we need posters at airports, particularly with the expected rise in numbers moving between China and the UK to visit relatives over Chinese New Year.”
He added: “We need to be more alert. If you’ve visited the area and are feeling unwell, see your GP.”
Professor Hugh Pennington, a public health expert from the University of Aberdeen, said anyone returning from the area who has experienced symptoms of illness should contact their doctor: “The GP can do a home visit and get in touch with public health officials. We do not want any new virus to be established here and Chinese New Year will raise the likelihood.”
Professor Neil Ferguson, of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London, said that the spread of the disease to other countries was particularly alarming. “For Wuhan to have exported three cases to other countries would imply there would have to be many more cases than have been reported.”
He added it was “too early to be alarmist” but he was “substantially more concerned” than a week ago.
Chinese officials say there have been no cases of the virus spreading from one person to another.
Instead they believe the virus has crossed the species barrier from infected animals at a seafood and wildlife market inwuhan.