Two people are in hospital being treated for flu-like symptoms after flying to Scotland from China, with medics fearing they could be infected with coronavirus, according to the Daily Mirror.
The patients are currently in isolation at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, having flown from Wuhan, the region thought to be the origin of the deadly virus.
They are believed to have caught a connecting flight from London before landing in Scotland.
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The death toll for coronavirus currently stands at 17 people worldwide, as reported by the Daily Record.
The first tests that the patients have had haven't ruled out coronavirus, but senior doctors have said that the timing of the flights and the symptoms gave them hope that it was just common flu.
As reported by The Mirror, a source said: "There was no doubt that the situation was being taken seriously because of the symptoms being displayed and the specific origin of travel.
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"The patient came through London to Glasgow and after the symptoms were flagged up no chances were taken.
"The tests that were carried out could not immediately isolate what the condition might be and it may take a bit longer to be absolutely sure what doctors are dealing with.
"Obviously they are erring on the side of caution in the meantime."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation is in the process of holding emergency talks to decide on the seriousness of the infection. Members of the WHO are holding talks to confirm whether it's being classed as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
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Passengers on flights bound for the UK from China will be observed for signs of the fast-spreading coronavirus after the death toll reached 17.
The virus has been noted for to its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people back in 2002-2003.
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.
Although the cause of the outbreak is not yet known, scientists in China have suggested it could have originated from fruit bats, while videos of people tucking into bat soup have been shared online.
Experts have said in the Chinese Science Bulletin that fruit bats could be hosting the virus, as was the case for SARS.
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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."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: World News, uk news