A British sales executive who had spread a deadly novel coronavirus to at least 11 people after attending a gas conference in Singapore has identified himself as Steve Walsh and said he overcame the virus in five days.

The 53-year-old man who has raised fears of being a “super-spreader” for infecting more than 10 people is said to be a scout leader and father of two from Brighton in England, 75km south of London, MailOnline reported.

In a statement on Tuesday (Feb 11), Mr Walsh said: “I would like to thank the NHS (National Health Service) for their help and care – whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus.”

He said that as soon as he knew he had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus, he contacted the health authorities and was advised to enter an isolated room at a hospital despite showing no symptoms. He was subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed.

“When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves,” said Mr Walsh. “I also thank friends, family and colleagues for their support during recent weeks and I ask the media to respect our privacy.”

More than 100 people took part in the Jan 20-22 Grand Hyatt Singapore conference, including at least one Chinese national from Wuhan in Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic that has now left more than 1,000 dead. 

After catching the virus, Mr Walsh passed it on to several compatriots while on holiday in the French Alps.

Stricken with fever after his return to the south of England, Mr Walsh went to a medical centre in the south-eastern town of Brighton where he was diagnosed with the coronavirus on  Feb 6.

Of those infected by him, five have been hospitalised in France, five in Britain and one other man on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Mr Walsh’s employer Servomex, a British gas analytics company that organised the Singapore conference, said it is pleased that he has made a full recovery.

“We continue to provide support to him and his family. We are working with Public Health authorities to ensure the welfare of our staff and communities and wish anyone with the virus a quick and full recovery,” said a spokesman.

To date, the coronavirus has spread to many parts of the world, killing more than 1,000 people and infecting more than 40,000 others, most of whom in China.

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