It comes as airlines such as British Airways have axed all flights to China amid the terrifying outbreak which has killed more than 100 people.

Photos of terrified travellers have been shared on social media, with people seen covering themselves with plastic sheets and even bottles in public.

A mother and child were seen on the Hong Kong Metro system wearing makeshift "shields" fashioned from cut plastic bottles.

Others were also spotted in similar makeshift protection in airport queues.

On a flight from Shanghai to Perth, one man was pictured wearing a motorbike helmet in a bid to protect himself from the deadly bug.

Passengers on the same flight told The West Australian most people on board were wearing face masks as a minimum and the plane was sprayed once they landed.