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New case of Sars-like virus suspected in France

 French health authorities said this morning that one person is now suspected of contracting a deadly new SARS-like virus after coming into contact with a man already confirmed to be infected.

Sars-corona virus
Sars-corona virus Wikipedia
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 “Further examinations are necessary” said the French health ministry, to determine if the patient has come down with the virus.

The first confirmed case of the new coronvirus involved a 65 year old man, who has been in intensive care in Douai, northern France, after falling ill from a holiday in Dubai. He is said to be in “very serious, but stable condition”. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the man had an underlying medical condition, including “an immunocompromised state”. 

Transmission of the coronavirus via human contact is possible, but at present is a rare occurrence, according to specialists in France. 

Three other patients initially thought to have contracted the new virus were cleared following tests done late Friday.

 

Nearly 18 people have been killed so far from the new coronavirus. The WHO raised the number of confirmed cases worldwide to 33, after Saudi Arabia said two people admitted to hospital in April were found to have been infected with the virus.

The virus, known as nCoV-EMC, is a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), that triggered a scare ten years ago when it broke out in East Asia, killing some 800 people. The virus originated in animal hosts and then jumped to humans.

It was first detected in September 2012. Since then, more than 30 cases have been reported worldwide, with 18 deaths.

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