Brits are being urged to “mask up” just 24 hours after it emerged that the new mystery Chinese “Covid-like” pneumonia virus has reached Europe.
The strange Covid-like pneumonia virus has been causing chaos in China for weeks, with the world on high alert over fears a new pandemic could strike. It saw officials in other countries such as India, who are wary of another virus spreading through their population following the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2019, readying themselves for action.
A big surge in respiratory diseases has knocked China, with Beijing hospitals overrun after a massive increase in hospitalisations. Some Indian states are now preparing their own health services to brace for the virus as a result.
READ MORE: Mystery China virus now 'Covid-like' as health experts panic worldwide
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And it has now been detected in Europe for the first time, with medical officials in both Denmark and Holland confirming that the virus has taken hold there, with the latter confirming that the number of children – whom it mainly impacts – aged between five and 14 to get it has risen to 130 per 100,000 in just one week.
That is more than double the normal amount of winter flu-like illnesses for this time of year on average – Denmark has also reported an increase of three times the amount, from 168 to 541 in the space of five weeks. And now Dr Bruno Silvester Lopes, a lecturer in microbiology from Teesside University has issued an urgent warning to Brits worried about catching it.
Mystery China virus now 'Covid-like' as health experts panic worldwide
He told the Daily Express: “Wear N95 face masks as necessary, especially in crowded places, and practise good hand hygiene. If you are concerned about the risk of illness, you must ensure that you are fit to travel and are in good health.
“It is fine to travel to China but it’s advisable that only essential travel is undertaken.”
His warning also comes a the first three key symptoms of the mystery virus were revealed to be a sore throat, fatigue and a lingering cough that can last for weeks or months.
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