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Coronavirus: Signs the new Sars-like virus can spread between people Coronavirus: Signs the new Sars-like virus can spread between people
(about 1 hour later)
By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC NewsBy James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News
Health officials in the UK believe they have the strongest evidence yet that a new respiratory illness similar to the deadly Sars virus can spread from person to person.Health officials in the UK believe they have the strongest evidence yet that a new respiratory illness similar to the deadly Sars virus can spread from person to person.
Cases of the infection may come from contact with animals. However, if the virus can spread between people it poses a much more serious threat.Cases of the infection may come from contact with animals. However, if the virus can spread between people it poses a much more serious threat.
One person in the UK is thought to have caught the infection from a relative.One person in the UK is thought to have caught the infection from a relative.
However, officials say the threat to the whole population remains very low.However, officials say the threat to the whole population remains very low.
There have been 11 confirmed cases of the infection around the world. It causes pneumonia and sometimes kidney failure - five patients have died.There have been 11 confirmed cases of the infection around the world. It causes pneumonia and sometimes kidney failure - five patients have died.
This is the third case identified in the UK. The first was a patient flown in from Qatar for treatment. The second was linked to travel to the Middle East and Pakistan.This is the third case identified in the UK. The first was a patient flown in from Qatar for treatment. The second was linked to travel to the Middle East and Pakistan.
The virus is then thought to have spread from the second patient to a close relative. There have been suggestions of person to person transmission in earlier cases in the Middle East, but this was not confirmed.The virus is then thought to have spread from the second patient to a close relative. There have been suggestions of person to person transmission in earlier cases in the Middle East, but this was not confirmed.
SusceptibleSusceptible
The third UK case is being treated in intensive care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.The third UK case is being treated in intensive care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
The patient is known to have an underlying health condition which may have made them susceptible to the infection. The patient is known to have an underlying health condition which left them with a weakened immune system. This may have made them susceptible to the infection.
Prof John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the Health Protection Agency, said: "Confirmed novel coronavirus infection in a person without travel history to the Middle East suggests that person-to-person transmission has occurred, and that it occurred in the UK.Prof John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the Health Protection Agency, said: "Confirmed novel coronavirus infection in a person without travel history to the Middle East suggests that person-to-person transmission has occurred, and that it occurred in the UK.
"Although this case provides strong evidence for person to person transmission, the risk of infection in most circumstances is still considered to be very low.""Although this case provides strong evidence for person to person transmission, the risk of infection in most circumstances is still considered to be very low."
The exact source of the new virus and how it spreads is still unknown. The new Sars-like virus does appear to be closely related to bats.The exact source of the new virus and how it spreads is still unknown. The new Sars-like virus does appear to be closely related to bats.
However, if the infection needed to jump from an animal to a person each time the threat would be much lower.However, if the infection needed to jump from an animal to a person each time the threat would be much lower.
The World Health Organization reported cases from within the same family in Saudi Arabia in November 2012.The World Health Organization reported cases from within the same family in Saudi Arabia in November 2012.
It was impossible to tell whether each patient caught the infection separately - or if it had spread between them.It was impossible to tell whether each patient caught the infection separately - or if it had spread between them.
A WHO spokesperson said: "We know that in some of those cases there was close physical contact between family members caring for one another, so we can't rule out human-to-human transmission."
The two cases in the UK, with only one case linked to foreign travel, provide the strongest evidence that the infection can spread between people.The two cases in the UK, with only one case linked to foreign travel, provide the strongest evidence that the infection can spread between people.
However, if the virus could readily and easily spread between people then far more cases than the 11 detected so far would have been detected.However, if the virus could readily and easily spread between people then far more cases than the 11 detected so far would have been detected.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to the Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus, which spread through droplets of body fluids produced by sneezing and coughing.Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to the Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus, which spread through droplets of body fluids produced by sneezing and coughing.
In 2002 an outbreak of Sars killed about 800 people after the virus spread to more than 30 countries around the world.In 2002 an outbreak of Sars killed about 800 people after the virus spread to more than 30 countries around the world.
The new coronavirus was first identified in September 2012 in a patient in Saudi Arabia who has since died.The new coronavirus was first identified in September 2012 in a patient in Saudi Arabia who has since died.
No travel restrictions are in place.No travel restrictions are in place.
Prof John Oxford, a virology expert at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "This doesn't raise too many alarm bells.Prof John Oxford, a virology expert at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "This doesn't raise too many alarm bells.
"In a family things can spread far more easily than they would spread outside, people share towels and toothbrushes etc."In a family things can spread far more easily than they would spread outside, people share towels and toothbrushes etc.
"If it was somebody who was not related or a nurse or a doctor - that would be a lot more serious.""If it was somebody who was not related or a nurse or a doctor - that would be a lot more serious."