First case of coronavirus found in Singapore

By Gamze Turkoglu Oguz

ANKARA (AA) - Health authorities in Singapore announced Thursday a new type of coronavirus was detected in a Chinese man from Wuhan, China who came to Singapore with his family Jan 20.

Authorities said the 66-year-old male patient was quarantined after having a sore throat, fever and a cough. Results of tests performed revealed he carries a new strain of the virus.

Those with whom the patient was in close contact and who were sitting on the plane were screened for the virus. The patient's 37-year-old son was under observation as a suspicious case.

In China, 571 people were infected with a new type of coronavirus (2019-nCoV), and 17 people have died. It is similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

As of Wednesday, the virus was detected in one person in Hong Kong and Macao Chinese special administrative region.

The virus was also seen in the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

The Wuhan the airport and train stations were closed Wednesday to outgoing passengers while public transportation was suspended.