Brisbane’s general hospital has confirmed it had recorded four patients with the deadly coronavirus, with a further 13 patients at risk.

A statement from the hospital said it had received a call on Tuesday from an Australian citizen with a respiratory illness, who was isolated in a room and had recently returned from Sierra Leone.

The statement said the individual had tested negative for the virus and had not travelled to West Africa.

It said the patient’s condition was stable and they were unable to provide any further details about the individual.

Queensland Health Department spokesman Matt Brown said it was too early to comment on the case.

“We have received a report from the Queensland Health Department of a potential case of coronaviruses in a patient in the Brisbane General Hospital.

This case is under investigation,” he said.

In a statement to the ABC, Queensland Health said it has been contacted by the Queensland Government and Health Services Minister, who said the hospital was “fully co-operating” with the investigation.

Mr Brown said the Queensland government would be working with the state health authorities to assist Queensland Health with the case and would continue to be in contact with the public.

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