A second case of infection with a new Chinese coronavirus has been found in Thailand as health authorities ramp up checks on Chinese visitors arriving for the Lunar New Year holiday.
The latest patient is from China's central city of Wuhan, which has reported 41 cases of pneumonia potentially linked to the new type of virus, with two deaths, while hospitals worldwide scramble to guard against any spread.
Tests showed that a 74-year-old woman, quarantined since arriving in Thailand on Monday was infected, health permanent secretary Sukhum Karnchanapimai said on Friday.
He said there was no outbreak in Thailand and needto worry.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause infections ranging from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome.
It was announced on Monday that a 61-year-old Chinese woman had been detected in Thailand carrying a strain of the new coronavirus, the first time it was detected outside China.
Japan reported its first case of the infection on Thursday, after a Japanese man returned from visiting Wuhan.
The World Health Organizationhas said the virus could spread and warned hospitals to take precautions.
Thai health officials have stepped up monitoring at four airports receiving daily flights from Wuhan - Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueng, Chiang Mai and Phuket - and others that receive charter flights from the Chinese city.
Since Jan 3, 13,624 passengers had been screened on arrival, officials said.
Health officials also asked Thai AirAsia and China Southern Airlines, which run direct daily flights from Wuhan, to halt boarding by those suffering from high fever and respiratory symptoms, and reschedule their flights.