Australia confirms first coronavirus case

Australia on Saturday confirmed its first case of new coronavirus that has claimed 41 lives in China, becoming latest country in a growing list to be affected by illness. sick man arrived in Melbourne from China a week ago from Chinese city of Wuhan, epicentre of outbreak, government said. Authorities in Victoria state have followed "strict protocols, including isolating affected person," said Professor Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief medical officer.

"I understand patient has pneumonia and is in a stable condition." previously unkwn 2019 vel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is thought to have originated in a market in Wuhan where exotic animals and bushmeat were sold.

It has infected around 1,300 people in China and spre to almost a dozen or territories, including France and United States. virus has caused global concern because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

Health experts say some human-to-human transmission has been recorded, particularly in Wuhan, a city of 11 million w under lockdown in a bid to limit spre of disease. Australian health minister Greg Hunt said passengers who travelled on same Melbourne-bound plane as infected man were being contacted "to provide m with information and vice".