The Foreign Office has issued new advice for travellers to several countries in southeast Asia including Japan, South Korea and Thailand after several cases of the pneumonia-inducing coronavirus were found in all three countries.

The source of the virus has been traced to Wuhan in China, where more than 460 cases have been identified. Seventeen people have died.

The city is now on lockdown with all outbound flights and other transported suspended. Its tourist attractions and hotels have been told to cancel any large-scale activities or gatherings.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Thailand, where four cases have been identified, and South Korea and Japan (above), which have reported one case each, directing visitors to the Public Health England website, which is urging travellers to maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and avoid visiting animal and bird markets or people who are ill with respiratory symptoms.

It is also issuing advice on the coronavirus for travellers to other countries in southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

A single case of coronavirus has also been identified in Washington State in the US, but the Foreign Office has not yet updated its travel advice for north America.