Australia’s Chief Medical Officer has confirmed five cases of novel coronavirus in Australia – one in Victoria and four in NSW.
Professor Brendan Murphy said State health authorities had acted swiftly, following strict protocols after the confirmations.
“All affected patients have been placed in isolation,” Professor Murphy said.
“I understand they are stable and doing well,” he said.
“The Commonwealth Department of Health is in close contact with Victorian and NSW health authorities and has notified the World Health Organisation of the cases.”
Professor Murphy said four cases were men who had flown to Australia on separate flights from China between 6 January and 20 January.
The fifth case, confirmed yesterday, was a 21-year-old Chinese female university student from Sydney. The woman travelled on a direct flight from Wuhan to Sydney on January 22.
He said all had either spent time in Wuhan, China, or been in close contact with someone from Wuhan.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said NSW and Victorian authorities were taking all necessary precautions to limit the transmission of the virus.
The Minister convened a meeting of State and Territory Health Ministers on 25 January to coordinate the ongoing national action and response.
“As a result of that meeting, the Government has written to doctors’ groups today to provide them with updated information and advice,” Mr Hunt said.
“The Commonwealth is working closely with Victoria and New South Wales to facilitate contact tracing of individuals who may have been in contact with these people since they arrived in Australia or on the relevant flights.”
Mr Hunt said the symptoms of novel coronavirus include fever, coughing, sore throat, vomiting and difficulty breathing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has raised the level of travel advice for Wuhan and Hubei Province in China to ‘Level 4 – do not travel’ and has issued a Smarttraveller bulletin on the virus outbreak.
