Tests for the deadly coronavirus can now be turned around in one day, as four Australians are being assessed after their return from China
Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said four tests in the state have come back negative.and Prof Murphy expects more to occur around the world, but stressed it's"very hard to predict".Biosecurity experts met the first plane from Wuhan to Sydney on Thursday and found no ill passengers but warned symptoms could take a week to emerge.
Airports worldwide are screening passengers arriving from China, while Taiwan has banned anyone from Wuhan from going to the island. Crossbench Senator Rex Patrick has called for all direct flights from China to Australia to be screened by biosecurity staff.China has put millions of people in lockdown in an attempt to curb the virus from spreading while the 11 million residents of Wuhan have been told not to leave.
Health officials fear the transmission rate could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad for the Lunar New Year, which begins on Saturday.Scientists are beginning work on vaccination for the virus, with a team of Queensland researchers one of three teams around the world hoping to find a medication within six months.
The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market.
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