The infected man, who travelled back from Saudi Arabia on January 28, unwittingly passed it on to his son, who has since died from the bug
Plane passengers who sat near a British man with the Sars-like virus are being hunted in an attempt to stop it spreading globally.
The infected man, who travelled back to London on January 28 after a trip to Saudi Arabia, unwittingly passed it on to his son, who has since died from the bug.
UK medics now fear he could also have given it to others on the plane.
So far 12 people have caught the coronavirus, including five in Saudi Arabia, two in Jordan, four here and one in Germany.
Six of the 12 have died. It is not known exactly how the British victim died.
Officials are now on high alert over fears the bug could be spread by sufferers flying internationally.
Dr William Schaffner, a disease specialist in America, said: “I wouldn’t be shocked if it came here. Once it gets you, it’s a very serious infection.”
Experts at the Health Protection Agency have started tracing everyone who sat on the same row as the British man and all those who sat two rows in front or behind.
Once found, the passengers – many of whom have since flown home to different countries – will need to take a blood test to check if they have caught the bug...
..Officials have already tested more than 100 people in the UK, including family and friends of victims as well as hospital staff. Six NHS workers continue to be “closely monitored”..
