US airports screen passengers as coronavirus outbreak expands
Airports from Asia to North America have stepped up inbound passenger health monitoring as a second death was reported in the new coronavirus outbreak in China.
A second case was also reported in Thailand.
The SARS-like virus originated in the city of Wuhan, China and all three cases reported outside China – two in Thailand and one in Japan – had been to the city.
There are now nearly 50 confirmed cases.
Thailand has beefed up monitoring at four airports which are linked by flights from Wuhan – Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
"We’re very confident that we can control the spread of this kind of disease," said health minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Airports in Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong have tightened screening of flights from China ahead of the upcoming peak Lunar New Year holidays.
Airports in North America are also doing the same.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent 100 officers to San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles airports to thermal screen passengers from China.
Three airports in Canada will also screen passengers.
Health officials in London believe hundreds may already be infected with the mysterious virus.
It is thought the bug originated from a seafood wholesale market in Wuhan where live animals were present.
This suggests it has jumped from animal to human.
The World Health Organisation said it is an all-new strain of coronavirus, which can cause the common cold as well as the deadly Sars virus.
Very little is known for sure about how it spreads and is contracted by humans.
The WHO is expecting the number of cases to rise and says it could intensify during the Chinese New Year holidays.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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