The China government asked the Burmese police to look out for five Chinese nationals from Wuhan suspected of having the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that are believed to be at large in border town Muse.

The suspects visited Ruili in Yunnan province before crossing over the border to Burma.

China has requested to the Burmese police to deport them if they are located.

The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan in the Chinese province Hebei has already spread to 28 countries, according to WHO. There are 28,339 infected with the virus. It has killed 565 people. There have been 1,208 cured of the virus.

So far, there hasn’t been a confirmed case of the virus in Burma although several people were under observation.

A plane that landed in Yangon last week was sent back to China after a man on board exhibited symptoms related to the coronavirus. The man was put into quarantine until it was determined he hadn’t contracted the virus.

In Muse, fear of the coronavirus has drastically slowed down border trade between Burma and China.

In a case unrelated to the coronavirus epidemic, a Chinese national died in Muse.

Thaung Tun, who works for the Garuna Social team in the border town said according to the medical report the man suffered from heart disease and tuberculosis.

At first, no-one knew where the deceased patient was from or how to contact his relatives.

Later, when more information was obtained, his ashes were sent to his relatives living in China.