Is the coronavirus in Edinburgh? Latest news on the China virus outbreak as three given all clear following tests at Royal Infirmary

At least five people in Scotland - including three people in Edinburgh - have been given the all clear after being tested for coronavirus.
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Public Health England (PHE) confirmed that cases of coronavirus in the UK are "highly likely", with 800 cases across the world now confirmed.

Fourteen people in the UK have been tested, but all have been give the all clear. Four out five patients tested in Scotland were Chinese nationals.

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All those who have been tested in the UK have travelled to the city of Wuhan - the area where the virus originated - in the past two weeks.

There are 800 confirmed cases of the new deadly strain of Coronavirus globally (Getty Images)There are 800 confirmed cases of the new deadly strain of Coronavirus globally (Getty Images)
There are 800 confirmed cases of the new deadly strain of Coronavirus globally (Getty Images)

Here's everything you need to know about the virus after it emerged that three people in Edinburgh had been undergoing assessment at the Royal Infirmary to see whether they had the disease.

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An incident team has been set up in Scotland after it emerged on Thursday (January 23) that three people in Edinburgh and two people in Glasgow were being tested for the virus.

All five were admitted after they exhibited the symptom of breathing trouble, a red flag for the virus.

Three patients are being tested for Coronavirus at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (Shutterstock)Three patients are being tested for Coronavirus at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (Shutterstock)
Three patients are being tested for Coronavirus at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (Shutterstock)
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All five patients have been given the all clear meaning there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Edinburgh yet.

Haas said: "here at the University of Edinburgh we have more than 2,000 students from China and they are always coming and going back to China so we are relatively sure we will have cases in the UK from travellers coming back from China."

Universities urge caution

University students in Scotland have been advised that while the risk of infection remains low, extra care should be taken with personal hygiene.

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Glasgow Univeristy, which is attended by 1500 Chinese students, issued an email updating students on the virus.

They said: As colleagues and students may be aware, a small number of individuals in Scotland are currently being tested for coronavirus.

"We are in contact with the Public Health protection Unit and will follow their advice in any matters erlating to the health and wellbeing of staff and students.

"We are advised that the risk of infection remains low, but that we should all take extra care with personal hygiene and regular hand washing. Anyone who experiences flu-like or fever symptoms should ring their GP, the Barclay Medical Centre or NHS 24.

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Careful consideration should be given to anyone contemplating travelling to China."

Dundee University has a partnership with Wuhan University and advised that they "will continue to monitor the situation taking advice from the relevant agencies as to appropriate action."

No health concerns have been raised by the university as of yet.

Chinese city in lockdown

Wuhan - which has a population of 11 million people - has gone into lockdown, with authorities suspending planes and trains in and out of the city.

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Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau have also cancelled some events to stop large crowds gathering together, as the country prepares to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Symptoms and causes and how it spreads

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explaining they usually cause “mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses”, like the common cold.

Most people get infected with these viruses at some point during their lives, although they usually only last for a short period of time.

Symptoms of the virus may include:runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, a general feeling of being unwell

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Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, or more severe diseases such as SARS. However, this is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants and older adults.

How does it spread?

Coronaviruses are most commonly spread from an infected person to others through the following means: the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; fecal contamination.