Coronavirus Patient Transported In Plastic Tube To Stop Disease Spreading

Chinese emergency services have been seen transporting a patient inside a sealed plastic tube to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Footage taken shows two workers in Hazmat suits pulling a person out of the back of an ambulance, before taking them towards a hospital.

The country's officials have said that 20 medical workers have been infected with a new strain of the infection while caring for sick patients.

Li Bin, deputy director of the National Health Commission in China, said that the illness has 'the possibility of viral mutation and further spread of the disease'.

It is believed that animals could be the suspected primary source of the outbreak, with a seafood market selling live animals in Wuhan in Hubei province being identified as ground zero for the virus.

The World Health Organisation reported that The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan city was closed on 1 January 2020 for environmental sanitation and disinfection.

Scientists in China have suggested the coronavirus could have originated from fruit bats, while videos of people eating bat soup have been shared online.

The deadly virus has killed at least 17 people - with China confirming 571 cases for far.

Experts have said in the Chinese Science Bulletin that fruit bats could be hosting the virus, as was the case for SARS.

A statement published in the South China Morning Post: "The Wuhan coronavirus' natural host could be bats... but between bats and humans there may be an unknown intermediate."

The report comes as videos have gone viral showing people tucking into bat soup - considered a delicacy in parts of China.

Clips shared online show a bat floating inside a bowl of broth, while another shows a woman eating a bat with a pair of chopsticks.

Scientists are still unclear on how the virus has spread, but the report found it has a 'strong binding affinity' to a human protein called ACE2. Scientists say this binding protein has a 'high resemblance to that of SARS'.

PA

According to The Mirror, international flights to Heathrow Airport now include air crew observation of passengers, similar to steps taken by Australia and the US to identify potential carriers before they arrive at their destination.

Four people who travelled from Wuhan to Scotland via Heathrow have been tested for the virus after showing flu-like symptoms.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "There are currently no confirmed cases of Coronavirus (WN Co-V) in Scotland 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. Three further people are also undergoing testing on a similar precautionary basis.

"As the situation develops we will update should there be any confirmed cases of Coronavirus, rather than provide a running update on cases being considered on a 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."

Topics: World News, Coronavirus, Health

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. After a few years working on festivals and events, she went back to her roots. In her spare time, Amelia likes music, Liverpool FC, and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward