Malaysia insists virus diagnosis from cruise passenger is correct

Malaysia insisted Sunday it h correctly diagsed coronavirus in an elderly American woman from Westerdam cruise ship despite all passengers having been given a clean bill of health when y disembarked in Cambodia. vessel was at sea for two weeks and barred from Japan, Guam, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand over fears it might be carrying virus which originated in China and has killed more than 1,600 people.

Cambodia a staunch ally of Beijing allowed ship to dock Thursday in Sihaukville, ministering health tests before passengers disembarked in waves for homeward-bound flights. But jubilation dimmed late Saturday, as one of passengers was stopped by authorities in Malaysia when she was detected with a fever and was later diagsed with virus.

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w fears are mounting that more of 2,200 passengers and crew who disembarked may have been infected. Cambodia urged Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to "double-check" diagsis, but Malaysian deputy prime minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said 83-year-old American woman h alrey been tested twice.

"Our protocol is actually world-class... it's a positive," she told a press conference. She ded US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur h chartered four Malaysian Airlines planes to fly some of Westerdam's passengers to Kuala Lumpur.

But after discovery of infected woman on first plane carrying 143 passengers, or flights were cancelled. Onboard Westerdam -- where more than 200 passengers remain along with 747 crew members  mood has turned "sombre", said Lorraine Oliveira, who lives in Britain. "Guests are very anxious on board since finding out someone tested positive," she told AFP.

"We were (so) close to getting home and w we're back in limbo." Cambodia's decision to allow Westerdam to berth was lauded US President Donald Trump, who called country "beautiful" on Twitter, while US ambassor Patrick Murphy boarded ship to greet its American passengers.

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