A mum whose two young children have the same terminal illness is 'living in fear' that the coronavirus will kill them.
Claire and Martin Greenwood were left distraught when doctors diagnosed both their son Liam, 12, and daughter Jessica, 10, with the same rare condition last July.
The siblings both have Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia (PCH), which is caused by mutations in certain genes passed on from parents.
The condition has left Jessica unable to eat, speak, swallow or walk and needing round-the-clock care, while brother Liam is able to walk and talk, but medics say his condition will deteriorate as time goes on.
The family live in the village of Dreghorn, and are now 'terrified' coronavirus could kill their children after it was revealed that one of Scotland's three confirmed cases is in Ayrshire, reports the Daily Record.
Claire said: "Coronavirus could be fatal for Jessica and even Liam, although his condition is not as advanced as Jessica's.
"The virus is scary anyway, but the fact it has come to Ayrshire is absolutely terrifying for us.
"Anyone who has a child who is particularly vulnerable with complex medical needs, will be panicking now, just like I am. It's like living in fear of what might happen."
Jessica relies on 13 different medications every single day which are administered through a peg in her stomach.
She also has to have three different creams and two dressings routinely applied throughout the day and has various carers who help mum Claire look after her.
Claire says she worries if the situation escalates, delivery of Jessica's vital medication could be under threat.
She said: "How are we supposed to get our hands on her medications if there's a risk of spreading the disease through contact?
"We will just need to lock ourselves away if it comes to it. We will do whatever is needed to protect Jessica and Liam."
The number of Covid-19 cases in the UK soared to 206 today, as 42 more tested positive for the illness.
The most recent infections include five people in Scotland, bringing the total number of positive test results in the country to 16.
Two new cases have been reported in Lanarkshire, and one new case each in Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Grampian.
Cases had also already been confirmed in Ayrshire and Arran, Tayside, Forth Valley, and Fife.
Two people in England have been confirmed to have died from the virus.
An elderly woman died in Berkshire, followed by an 88-year-old man who died in Milton Keynes after returning home from a cruise in the Caribbean.
