A MAN from Hove who contracted the coronavirus visited a business conference at a five-star £1,000-a-night Singapore hotel where at least three other Asian delegates also caught the disease, it has emerged.

The business event at the Grand Hyatt Singapore that has been was hosted by a global gas analysis company with offices in Europe and Asia.

The conference, held over three days from January 20, was organised by British firm Servomex, which is based in Crowborough. 

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Singapore's Ministry of Health had previously said that 109 company employees - 94 from overseas and 15 local - attended the conference.

Yesterday, a middle-aged British man from Hove who attended the meeting was also confirmed to have the virus.

He is the first British national to contract the virus.

He was taken to St Thomas's Hospital in London and is currently being treated at a specialist infectious diseases unit.

But officials have repeatedly refused to give away any more details about the man, who is thought to be in his 40s or 50s, and they have also not released details of which flight he arrived on. 

Grand Hyatt Singapore's general manager, Mr Willi Martin, said the details about the three infections in the hotel were still sketchy.

"The Singapore Ministry of Health is still investigating the cases with the relevant authorities and has not advised details on how, where or when these individuals were infected with the virus," he said.

The businessman was diagnosed after a Chinese student from the University of York, along with his mother, were confirmed to have the virus last week. 

They have been quarantined at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. 

The latest case raises fears the virus is now circulating in higher numbers than previously thought outside of China. 

Downing Street issued updated travel advice on Friday night which simply warned Britons flying back from nine countries to phone NHS 111 if they feel slightly unwell.