Killer coronavirus ‘could ALREADY be in UK’ as Heathrow passengers isolated
A DEADLY new virus which has killed nine people in China could already be in UK, a top expert has warned. People flying into London from China will be isolated from other passengers on arrival to check for killer coronavirus. At least nine people have died while 440 victims have been infected by the virus […]
A DEADLY new virus which has killed nine people in China could already be in UK, a top expert has warned.
People flying into London from China will be isolated from other passengers on arrival to check for killer coronavirus.
At least nine people have died while 440 victims have been infected by the virus so far, with fears it could become global.
Professor Neil Ferguson, an expert in mathematical biology at Imperial College London, told reporters “we can’t rule out the possibility” there could already be a case in the UK.
During a press briefing by the Science Media Centre, he said: “Screening in the UK is not foolproof so there could be a mild case.”
Direct travel
Dr Ferguson, who also estimated that the number of cases may be higher than is being officially reported, added that the UK was not a major travel destination for Wuhan residents.
However there are three direct flights from the Chinese city – which has a larger population than London at 11 million – to Heathrow every week.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is always our main priority and we are working with the Government to support the implementation of enhanced monitoring measures as a precaution.
“We would like to reassure passengers that the Government assesses the risk of a traveller contracting coronavirus to be low.
“We would encourage anyone with individual questions or concerns to refer to guidance from Public Health England and the Foreign Office.”
Public Health England is expected to upgrade the risk to the UK from “very low” to “low” today.
And as part of the increasingly stringent measures, it is expected Health Secretary Matt Hancock will put introduce “port measures” that will include:
- Health teams to meet each flights from Wuhan to London Heathrow
- Passengers to be encouraged to report if they are feeling ill
- Planes to land in isolated areas of Heathrow Terminal 4 that “better lends itself to any health contingencies”
- People will be taken to a separate area on arrival
It comes after NHS chiefs have warned that the bug, which causes fever and difficulty breathing, could reach Britain as it spreads through Asia.
Dr Nick Phin, Public Health England deputy director, said: “We have issued advice to the NHS and are keeping the situation under constant review.
“People travelling to Wuhan should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and should avoid visiting animal and bird markets or people who are ill with respiratory symptoms.
“Individuals should seek medical attention if they develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of visiting Wuhan, either in China or on their return to the UK, informing their health service prior to their attendance about their recent travel to the city.
The outbreak of coronavirus is believed to have started in a market in Wuhan, China, in December.
US case
The first case of the mystery illness in the US is set to be announced later today, federal sources said.
A patient was hospitalised for pneumonia in America last week and had recently travelled to Wuhan, China where the respiratory disease was first spotted.
The virus could be declared a global health crisis after cases of the mystery bug previously quadrupled in just four days.
And an expert warned the deadly new virus is one of the “biggest global health threats”.
Scientists are frantically working on a vaccine to stop the spread of Wuhancoronavirus – but say it could be more than a year before it’s available.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an airborne virus, spread in a similar way to colds and the flu.
The virus attacks the respiratory system, causing lung lesions.
Symptoms include a runny nose, headache, cough and fever, shortness of breath, chills and body aches.
It is incredibly contagious and is spread through contact with anything the virus is on as well as infected breath, coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include a runny nose, headache, cough and fever, shortness of breath, chills and body aches.
In most cases, you won’t know whether you have a coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus, such as rhinovirus.
But if a coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract (your windpipe and your lungs), it can cause pneumonia, especially in older people, people with heart disease or people with weakened immune systems.
There is no vaccine for coronavirus.
In 2003 an outbreak of a similar virus, SARS, infected more than 8,000 people in 37 countries before it was brought under control, killing 800 of those worldwide.
Dr Peter Hotez, a vaccine scientist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said a team of scientists in Texas, New York and China, are also working on a vaccine.
He told the broadcaster: “The lesson we’ve learned is coronavirus infections are serious and one of the newest and biggest global health threats.”
Dr Hotez added that it’s less challenging to develop a vaccine for coronaviruses than for other viruses, including HIV or flu.
He said: “Every virus has its challenges, but coronaviruses can be a relatively straightforward vaccine target.”
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According to the South China Morning Post, Bejing warned that anyone who withheld information would face severe punishment and be “nailed on the pillar of shame for eternity”.
A spokesperson said: “Anyone who puts the face of politicians before the interests of the people will be the sinner of a millennium to the party and the people.
“Anyone who deliberately delays and hides the reporting of [virus] cases out of his or her own self-interest will be nailed on the pillar of shame for eternity.”
