CORONAVIRUS advice has been issued by Queen Margaret University after a member of its community developed flu-like symptoms after returning from a holiday in Thailand.

An email sent to all students and staff says that the individual has been told to stay at home for 14 days as a “precautionary measure”.

More than 1,000 people have died from coronavirus after it was first reported late last year.

The QMU individual has not been identified and it is not known if they are a staff member or student at the university, based in Musselburgh.

The email also states that “there is no particular need for concern” and the university is “following standard NHS advice”.

The email reads: “You will be aware of the coronavirus from media reports, and from previous communications issued by the university, and the requirement that people returning to the UK from mainland China and other specified countries should follow returning travellers’ advice.

“In line with the travellers’ advice, we have been advised that a member of the QMU community, who has recently returned from travel in Thailand, has developed flu-like symptoms, and has therefore, as a precautionary measure, been advised to remain at home for a period of 14 days. This is the standard advice to all those in this situation.

“This is peak season for respiratory and flu-like illness. There will be cases presenting with symptoms of cough, fever and shortness of breath, but these are highly unlikely to be coronavirus.

“We have contacted NHS24 and the dedicated UK Government coronavirus helpline to seek advice on this matter.

“Both have advised that no specific action is required of the university community, but that we should remind all staff and students to continue to exercise good hygiene, and to follow the advice on the NHS website at the following link in the event that they begin to feel unwell: nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poison ing/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov”

A spokesman for Queen Margaret University said: “In line with the standard current advice to travellers returning from specific countries, a member of the QMU community with flu-like symptoms has been advised by the NHS to remain at home for a period of 14 days.

“The individual had recently returned to the UK from Thailand.

“We emphasise that the individual is following the standard precautionary advice to all those in their situation, and has not been diagnosed with coronavirus.

“We have, of course, sought guidance from the NHS and Government.

“They have told us that no specific action is required of the university community, but we have reminded all staff and students of the NHS advice on coronavirus.”

Coronavirus is a new virus and was first reported on December 31 last year in Wuhan in China.

Symptoms include coughing, high temperature and shortness of breath.

The virus affects people in different ways, from the common cold to different respiratory diseases.

It can be passed on in similar ways to colds and flu, with advice urging people to wash their hands frequently, cough or sneeze into a tissue and seek medical advice if they begin to get ill.

So far in Scotland, 82 people have been tested for Coronavirus and all returned negative results.