Expat In Asia Warned Over Wuhan Coronavirus

Western expats living and working in China are being urged to monitor their health closely and avoid crowds due to the increasingly rapid spread of the Wuhan coronavirus.

To date, Wuhan city now has 198 confirmed cases of the Sars-like virus infection, thought to have originated in a local seafood market. Guangdong province has reported 14 confirmed cases and five have been reported in Beijing. In an attempt to stop further transmission and infection from the virus, the city has now taken strong measures including control over and monitoring of outbound travellers. Starting today, outbound tour groups are now banned, and city police are checking all private passenger vehicles for wild animals and live poultry.

Passengers at all the massive city’s transportation terminals are now being screened for fever symptoms via 35 fixed infrared thermometers and 300 hand-held devices. Those found to be feverish are being registered, given masks and ordered to visit a doctor. Now that the virus has reached Beijing, the city’s sizeable expat community is being warned to stay alert. It’s not known exactly how many foreigners are in the city at the present time, but coverage in English is expected to ensure all expats are warned of the danger. The city’s huge Chinese New Year celebrations have now been scaled back in a bid to limit person-to-person infection.

As regards Thailand’s first confirmed patient, it’s reported he is now cured and is back in a Chinese hospital being monitored. His extended family is being checked for signs of the virus, as are those of Thailand’s second victim. In the meantime, Singapore has announced its first case of the virus, as has the USA, with Asian health officers now believing the outbreak is more severe than at first considered. According to a current CNN report, 600 plus victims are now infected and 17 have died. South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have now reported cases, raising fears China is being less than open about the true situation.