WHO Finds New Virus Similar to SARS

Time to panic? The World Health Organization says it has identified a new SARS-like virus, but an expert says there's no reason yet to worry. The new coronavirus—a family of viruses that includes both SARS and the common cold—was identified in a 49-year-old Qatari man who had recently visited Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports. He went to the doctor with acute respiratory infection symptoms Sept. 3, was admitted to intensive care in Qatar on Sept. 7, and was flown to Britain via air ambulance Sept. 11.

"Given that this is a novel coronavirus, WHO is currently in the process of obtaining further information to determine the public health implications," reads a WHO statement. Scientists compared the virus to another that killed a 60-year-old Saudi national earlier this year and found the two were nearly identical, but an expert says that since they appear to be unrelated, this could just be "some rare event that in past times might have been undiagnosed" and advises being "watchful, but not immediately concerned." SARS killed 800 people in 2002 after first appearing in China. (More SARS stories.)