The deadly coronavirus has already claimed more than a hundred lives in China after the disease broke out in the city of Wuhan.
@Wright.Mitchr Shows us in the video below the difference between healthy and contagious coronavirus blood.
Within China, there were more than 7,700 cases as of Thursday, and more are emerging abroad, with at least 17 countries affected.
On Wednesday, the UAE announced its first four cases, a family from Wuhan holidaying here, while Emirates Airline said three staff with flu-like symptoms were tested but found negative.
Doctors and health officials have urged people in the UAE to remain calm, stressing the risk to the general public is low.
But how concerned should you be if you have to fly and what precautions should you take?
Is coronavirus a cause of concern?
The World Health Organisation has said “the world needs to be on alert” to fight the new virus. The body was due to meet on Thursday to discuss whether the outbreak is a global health emergency.
“There is no need for panic. Be concerned but don’t panic,” said Dr Arun Arya, head of department and consultant in pulmonology at NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. “You should not be travelling to the main areas in China where the majority of cases are,” he said.
It would also be prudent to avoid all “unnecessary” travel to the country, which now has cases in every region, he added.