Patient tested in Glasgow for deadly coronavirus after China trip

It has been confirmed that there are five people people in Scotland, two diagnosed with influenza, who have been tested for Coronavirus.

The Scottish Government however has stressed there are no confirmed cases of the virus and the tests are precautionary.

The people are understood to have travelled to Scotland from Wuhan the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak, via Heathrow Airport.

Around 500 people worldwide have been confirmed with the new strain of the virus.

READ MORE: Patient tested for deadly coronavirus in Glasgow

A viral infection expert said that cities with a large number of Chinese students could expect to see more cases of the virus as people travel between the countries.

Professor Jurgen Haas, head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said he understood there were cases in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow.

He said:“The situation will be pretty similar in pretty much all UK cities with a large number of Chinese students.”

Universities in Glasgow issued guidance to students following the outbreak in China, before the Scottish tests were revealed.

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Glasgow University has hundreds of students from China and 23 from the university in Wuhan on a partnership programme.

It said all the students were currently at the university, safe and healthy.

A spokeswoman for the University of Glasgow said: “The University can confirm that it has a partnership agreement with The Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in the city of Wuhan in China.

“This involves a ‘2+2’ arrangement with the University of Glasgow’s School of Mathematics and Statistics.

“This year there are 23 students altogether studying in 3rd and 4th years at Glasgow; they did their first and second years in China.

“We can confirm that all our Chinese students on this programme are currently studying at the University and in good health. This is not a reciprocal arrangement, no University of Glasgow students attend university in Wuhan. The first intake of students was in 2013/14.”

The guidance for students includes not travelling to Wuhan.

It states: “Although the risk appears to be low, the Chinese authorities have advised people not to travel into and out of Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak. We are conscious that our students may have family and friends in the locality and our thoughts are with anyone who may have been affected.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said:“There are currently no confirmed cases of Coronavirus (WN Co-V) in the UK and the risk to the Scottish public remains low.

“Following travel to Wuhan, China, two people confirmed as diagnosed with influenza are now being tested for Wuhan Novel Coronavirus as a precautionary measure only.

“A third person is also currently undergoing testing on a similar precautionary basis.

“We are co-orientating with Health Protection Scotland a daily Incident Management Team to continue to monitor the situation as it develops, including on the number of any potential cases going forward.”

The Scottish Government said “robust arrangements” were in place to check all travellers form Wuhan for symptoms.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are making appropriate preparations and anyone arriving at Heathrow from Wuhan and transferring to a flight to Scotland will, along with all other arriving passengers, be met by a health team from Public Health England at Heathrow who will check for symptoms.

“The current advice to travellers is against all but essential travel to Wuhan.

“Passengers should take precautions such as practicing good hand hygiene, personal and respiratory hygiene, and to minimise contact with birds and animals in markets in Wuhan or elsewhere in China.”

Health Boards are to receive updated guidance from the Government.

A Glasgow pharmacy has reported selling out of surgical masks.