Symptoms of the epidemic appeared ... Has the "mysterious virus" arrived in Australia?
Sanitary measures will be taken against flights from China
A Queensland Health Department spokesperson said the man had recently returned from Wuhan, central China, which is believed to be the epidemic outbreak of the coronavirus, which has infected 218 people so far, and is believed to have resulted in at least 4 deaths.
Queensland's chief health officer, Genet Yang, said the patient is recovering at his home in Brisbane (northeast), where health authorities are awaiting test results to determine if he was infected with the new virus.
News of the first suspected HIV infection in Australia came as the country announced it would start taking health measures against travelers arriving in Sydney from Wuhan, starting Thursday.
Health and biosecurity officials arriving at Sydney at airports will receive booklets in English and Chinese urging people suspected of being ill or suffering from any symptoms to identify themselves.
There are three flights every week between Wuhan and Australia, all arriving in Sydney.
Australia's top health official, Brendan Murphy, said the health program may be expanded to include other flights from China with a large number of passengers arriving from Wuhan, but added that this would not guarantee preventing an outbreak in the country.
"The symptoms may not be apparent for many people (who are HIV-positive)," he told reporters in Canberra. "The issue is about identifying those who are most at risk and making sure that people who are most at risk know about it and know how to get the necessary medical care."
He added: "There is no way to prevent (the virus) entering the country if the spread" expands, but he stressed that the risk was "relatively low" for Australians and that there was no reason to panic.