Taiwan confirms first case of Wuhan virus

Taiwan's Center for Disease Control personnel are using thermal scanners to screen passengers arriving on a flight from Wuhan. File photo: AFP

Taiwan on Tuesday confirmed its first case of the deadly new coronavirus that emerged around three weeks ago in Wuhan and has since spread across the mainland and beyond, claiming several lives.



Taiwan's Central News Agency said a woman from the island, who had been in Wuhan, was being treated in isolation after voluntarily reporting to health officials.



She was said to have been working in the Hubei capital which is at the centre of the outbreak.



The virus has also been found in patients in Thailand, Japan and South Korea.



Taiwan has been on high alert for the illness, which is similar to Sars, screening passengers arriving on flights from Wuhan.



In Hong Kong, dozens of people have been put into isolation in hospital after falling sick following trips to Wuhan, but no confirmed cases have been announced.