A new version of a respiratory virus has been discovered and
is similar to that of the SARS virus. There have been cases that have occurred
in the Middle East. However, there is not much known about this new illness.
The director of the Respiratory Diseases Department said that the department is
doing all they can to see if the two cases are related, as well as, trying to
find if any other respiratory cases in the Middle East are from the same condition.
The Qatari man who was infected was
taken to a hospital in London where he is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.
So far, none of the hospital staff have become ill, so that rules out the
possibility of the virus being contagious like SARS. Since the illness is still
in its early stages, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is
unknown exactly how the virus spreads. The WHO is looking into the possibility
that the virus is coming from animals.
The symptoms include respiratory problems, fever, cough, and
shortness of breath. Since these two cases are the only ones that have been
discovered in the span of a few months, it does not appear that the public will
have to worry about an outbreak. John Oxford, the virologist doesn’t believe
that the virus will be a major outbreak like the SARS virus, but instead
believes that this virus will just be another infection to add to the books.
While the two viruses may share similar symptoms, they are not the same.
However, if anyone in the Middle East or even those in London who were exposed
to the patient should experience any of the symptoms identified with these
viruses they should see a doctor immediately.
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