Airports around the world have been screening passengers in the wake of the virus outbreak in Wuhan. — Reuters pic

LONDON, Jan 24 — The British government will hold an emergency response meeting today over the deadly virus that has infected hundreds in China and spread to other countries.

A government spokesman said Britain was "well prepared” to deal with emerging threat, stressing that "there remain no confirmed cases” in the country to date.

Representatives of the ministries of transport, home affairs, foreign affairs, education, health and devolved nations will attend the special COBRA meeting, Downing Street said.

Public Health England said Friday that 14 people in Britain have been tested for the coronavirus to date, with five given the all-clear and nine more awaiting their test results.

UK health authorities have introduced "enhanced monitoring” for the three weekly flights from Wuhan—the central China city from where the virus spread—to London’s Heathrow airport. — AFP