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Coronavirus: British passenger on Viking ship tests positive for virus

A British female passenger on a river sailing with Viking in Cambodia has tested positive for coronavirus.

The positive test result prompted the country’s health authorities to test all 62 passengers and crew on board the Viking Mekong ship.

The 65-year-old British woman has been transported to the Kampong Cham Hospital after she became infected with the virus.


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It is understood other UK passengers have been tested for coronavirus with the results coming back negative.

The British woman is believed to have caught the virus on a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, last week. Viking said the infected passenger was in “good health” and was “not displaying any symptoms”.

The cruise was travelling from Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam to Kampong Cham province in Cambodia.

Cambodia’s minister of health Mam Bun Heng said: “The woman contracted the novel coronavirus infection from a Vietnamese national who sat beside her as they travelled on the same flight from England to Vietnam last week.

“The British woman then boarded the ship which left Vietnam on March 5 and arrived in Phnom Penh on March 7.”

A Viking spokesperson said: “We are doing everything we can to provide full support and are in contact with the guest’s family and the relevant authorities.

“As a precaution, all 31 guests and 31 crew on the ship are being tested for the virus.

“In the meantime, we are coordinating with the Cambodian authorities about the best course of action for the guests and crew on board.

“Our priority will be to maintain their comfort and wellbeing.”

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