France confirms 1st case of new SARS-related virus

[steve2470]

Source: AP

PARIS (AP) — A 65-year-old Frenchman is hospitalized after contracting France's first case of a deadly new respiratory virus related to SARS, and French health authorities said Wednesday they are trying to find anyone who might have been in contact with him to prevent it from spreading.

It's unclear how or where the man was infected with the novel coronavirus, which has killed 18 people and raised new public health concerns since being identified last year in the Middle East. It can cause acute pneumonia and kidney failure.

The patient fell ill after returning from a nine-day vacation in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as part of a package tour, the Health Ministry said. Jean-Yves Grall, the French government health director, said the patient is in "worrying condition" under isolation and medical surveillance, receiving respiratory assistance and blood transfusions.

The man, whose identity was not released, returned from Dubai on April 17. He was hospitalized with respiratory problems in the northern French city of Valenciennes on April 23, and transferred to a more advanced facility in Douai on April 29, Grall told a news conference Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/05/08/france-confirms-1st-case-of-new-sars-related-virus/2143883/

[Yo_Mama]

1. Not good news

Kicking - people need to be aware that if they or someone they know has recently been in the ME and is sick with a respiratory illness that they must seek early treatment and diagnosis.

This is a very serious illness.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. So how does this work?

they are trying to find anyone who might have been in contact with him to prevent it from spreading

v.

The man, whose identity was not released...