China is scaling up its efforts to contain a deadly new virus as millions of Chinese prepare to travel at home and overseas for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Six people have died in the central Chinese city of Wuhan from the new type of coronavirus, and the number of people infected has jumped to more than 300.
The World Health Organisation is warning more cases of the virus should be expected in other parts of China, and possibly other countries, in coming days.
Wuhan has put in place draconian measures to try to stop the spread of the disease.
Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are screening passengers from Wuhan.
Yesterday Australia became the latest country to put screening in place.
Australia's medical officer of health, Brendan Murphy, says the three flights a week that arrive in Sydney from Wuhan will be checked.
One Australian man in Brisbane who has visited Wuhan is being checked for the virus, but is now no longer in quarantine.
China's leaders have warned officials there not to cover up the spread of the virus, saying anyone who concealed new cases would "be nailed on the pillar of shame for eternity".
Hong Kong doctors have also told people to be honest about any illness.
Later today the World Health Organisation will decide whether to declare an international public health emergency over the virus.
Professor Kurt Krause from the University of Otago says the memory of the deadly SARS outbreak is behind the caution.
