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Coronavirus: Fears for potential fifth Australian victim

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NSW authorities are expected to confirm today the country's fifth case of the deadly coronavirus.

NSW Health yesterday said that a patient had preliminarily tested positive to the virus and was undergoing further examination.

They have already been isolated in hospital and authorities were seeking to track down people who have been in close contact with the person in recent weeks.

"Public health follow-up of this probable case is being undertaken in accordance with the national guidelines and the patient remains in isolation," NSW Health said in a statement.

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NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant speaks to the media at a press conference on coronavirus. (AAP/Bianca De Marchi) (AAP)

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The coronavirus as seen under a microscope. (British Health Protection Agency)

They said they expected to confirm their diagnosis today clearing four patients who had undergone testing.

Three patients in NSW and one in Victoria have already been diagnosed with the virus after an outbreak centred in the Chinese city of Wuhan which has spread across the world.

Three men aged 35, 43, and 53 are being treated in a Sydney hospital but are listed as being stable and NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Sunday said he was pleased with their progress. Authorities have now spoken to all but two people who have been in close contact with the three men since they arrived from China.

"There are a small number of people we're still trying to contact but substantially we have made contact," NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

The priority remains ensuring overseas visitors are vigilant in reporting any symptoms to avoid the spread of the virus.

The nation's Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant says it's likely there will be more cases of the coronavirus in Australia, following confirmation of four cases.

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(9News)

Professor Brendan Murphy says he will be sending out a message to GPs across the country on how to handle patients who present with symptoms of the deadly illness.

"There is no cause for general concern," Prof Murphy told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.

"I would not be surprised if there are some more cases ... it's highly likely that we may see some more.

"We are incredibly well prepared to isolate and deal with that."
The three men who were yesterday confirmed to have the virus are aged 53, 43 and 35 and all had some connection with the Hubei province.

The patients are being kept in the same isolation facilities as people who contract measles, which is considered a more contagious illness.

NSW chief health officer, Kerry Chant, has confirmed public health units have contacted the majority of the patients' close contacts to warn them of the risk.

"The risk of those transmission to those people is very, very low but these are precautionary actions," she said.

The announcement comes after another man, aged in his 50s, tested positive in a Melbourne hospital after arriving from the Chinese city of Guangzhou last week.

The Victorian patient, a Chinese national, has been isolated at the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton after his results returned a positive test at 2.15am on Saturday.

"He was confirmed as positive after a series of tests early this morning," Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told reporters.

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A Chinese health worker waits to check the temperature of travellers entering a train station during the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival on January 25, 2020 in Beijing, China. (Getty)

"What I can advise you is that the gentleman has been in the city of Wuhan in China for the past two weeks prior to the onset of his illness."

Ms Mikakos said the man arrived on a China Southern Airlines flight, flight number CZ321, from Guangzhou to Melbourne last Sunday.

Nine people in Queensland have returned negative results for coronavirus, with authorities on Saturday still waiting on results from another possible case.

Four people in South Australia were also being tested but authorities said it was unlikely they actually had the virus, with a man also being checked in a Hobart hospital.

The US is arranging a charter flight today to bring its citizens and diplomats back from Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Chinese Lunar New Year overshadowed by virus


President Xi Jinping says China is facing a "grave situation" as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped to 42, overshadowing Lunar New Year celebrations.

Hong Kong has declared a virus emergency, scrapped celebrations and restricted links to mainland China, while Australia confirmed its first four cases on Saturday.

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https://www.9news.com.au/national/c...shutdown/71c2e099-d49b-42b9-b4b1-02bc4a0457a6
 
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