Thailand has its first case of the new pneumonia-like virus which has infected dozens in Wuhan, China.
The World Health Organization said a traveller returned from Wuhan with the virus after being diagnosed with mild pneumonia.
"Laboratory testing subsequently confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told AFP.
It is the first case of the virus outside China, which can lead to illnesses ranging from common colds to the Sars virus.
This has led to fears of a possible fast moving epidemic like Sars which killed more than 600 people in China and Hong Kong in the early-2000s.
Health officials are not surprised the virus has reached beyond China’s borders.
"The possibility of cases being identified in other countries was not unexpected, and reinforces why WHO calls for on-going active monitoring and preparedness in other countries," the WHO said.
The WHO hasn’t yet recommended any specific actions travellers should take in China, although the agency said it may convene a committee meeting to discuss the situation.
There have been at least 41 confirmed cases in the Wuhan region so far and the first death was reported last week.
