A case of the deadly coronavirus has been diagnosed for the first time in the United States.
It's the first time a case of the virus has been found outside Asia and was detected in a passenger from China who arrived in Seattle.
In Australia a man in Brisbane who had visited Wuhan was being checked for the virus, but is now no longer in quarantine.
The Ministry of Health says the current risk to New Zealand from the deadly coronavirus is low but is awaiting further advice from the World Health Organisation.
The virus - which originated in Wuhan - has killed six people and infected more than 300 people.
Earlier Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay said there are no direct flights from Wuhan to New Zealand, but the Ministry of Health is keeping an eye on the situation in Australia.
Professor Michael Baker is a Medical Epidemiologist at the University of Otago and speaks to Philippa Tolley.
