China has turned to thermal drones to help fight the coronavirus outbreak that are capable for scanning potentially infected villagers.

The unmanned aerial vehicles, which are equipped with thermal imaging technology, can read the body temperatures in the sky with high readings suggesting infection.

The operator can receive accurate reading from the screen, which helps to control the outbreak at an early stage.

They can also send them warnings or urgent reminders through the speakers on the drones.

A spokesperson for the company behind the drones in Fuxin city of Liaoning province in northeastern China said: "We have two types of drones qualified to assist monitoring the outbreak – one equipped with speaker and one equipped with thermal imaging.

The camera can identify the individual's body temperatures from at least 3 ft above ground
The camera can identify the individual's body temperatures from at least 3 ft above ground

"The speaker is to send messages to the residents, to remind them to keep good personal hygiene and suggest precautionary measures.

"The thermal camera can detect the residents' body temperatures. It will be useful when use in crowded areas, so we can identify any suspected coronavirus patients.

"We can then send an alert to call the people to the hospitals for a checkup."

The flu-like virus outbreak has infected more than 28,000 people and killed 564 in China.

Coronavirus is a large family of viruses which attack the respiratory system.

They can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The Wuhan coronavirus, or the novel coronavirus, is a new strain which is named after the area in China where it is believed to have originated.

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Also known as 2019-nCoV, has not previously been identified in humans.

According to the WHO, the symptoms of coronavirus are: Respiratory problems, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

More severe cases of infection can show signs of pneumonia, kidney failure and ultimately death.

It comes after the "real" death toll of the killer disease was apparently leaked in China, claiming 24,489 died.