Britain: Fourth Case of SARS-like Virus

In Britain, a third member of a family has been diagnosed with a potentially fatal SARS-like virus, say officials.

In Britain, a third member of a family has been diagnosed with a potentially fatal SARS-like virus, say officials. This is the fourth case to hit Britain after a 49-year-old Qatari man was treated at a London hospital in September for the virus.

Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the latest person to contract novel coronavirus was a relative of two other cases announced earlier this week, who were admitted to intensive care wards at two British hospitals.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
SARS is a viral respiratory disease caused by SARS-associated coronavirus.

The first member of the family, who was confirmed on Monday as having the virus, had recently travelled to the Middle East and Pakistan. Their two relatives had no recent travel history.

Five people have died of the virus, according to the HPA -- three in Saudi Arabia and two in Jordan.

The HPA said the latest patient was "recovering from a mild respiratory illness and is currently well".

The Lungs
The lungs are our organs of respiration. It is within these, that exchange of gases takes place.

John Watson, head of the HPA's respiratory diseases department, said the agency was in contact with people who had been in contact with the family.

He stressed that the risk of infection remained low.

SARS-Like Virus in Saudi and Qatar
The WHO has issued a warning about a new SARS-like virus, which has reportedly claimed six lives in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

"If novel coronavirus were more infectious, we would have expected to have seen a larger number of cases than we have seen since the first case was reported three months ago," he said.

Coronaviruses cause most common colds but can also cause SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

Five People Isolated in Danish Hospital Following Respiratory Illness With SARS-Like Symptoms
A Danish hospital revealed that it has isolated five people who displayed symptoms of a new viral respiratory illness.

A SARS epidemic killed more than 800 people when it swept out of China in 2003, sparking a major international health scare.

Source-AFP