Mysterious SARS-Like Virus May Have Spread Between People

There's a new update when it comes to the mysterious SARS-like virus that has made headlines across the globe. The sickness may have now been spread between people, according the ABC News. Previously, researchers had thought that the deadly virus could only be transferred between people and animals.

The virus, which has now infected 11 people, is a coronavirus. It can cause acute pneumonia, kidney failure and other complications that lead to hospitalizations. Of the 11 patients, five have died due to the virus.

Currently, researchers are trying to figure out exactly how people are infected. The coronavirus is actually more closely related to a bat virus than anything else, so scientists at first hypothesized that it was transferred from animals such as bats, goats or camels. In addition, the 10 previous cases all occurred after the patients had visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan. This eleventh case, though, is different.

The patient is a U.K. resident with no recent travel to any of the countries that were previously associated with the virus. However, the patient did have personal contact with an earlier case, and may have been at greater risk of infection due to an underlying medical condition. Currently, the patient is in intensive care at a Birmingham hospital and is being kept in isolation.

The coronavirus is part of a family of viruses that can cause the common cold and SARS, which can be deadly. In 2003, a global outbreak of SARS killed around 800 people worldwide. Already, officials at the World Health Organization have admitted that the new virus probably has spread between people in some instances-four members of the same family fell ill and two died in Saudi Arabia last year. However, it is difficult for health officials to confirm that these cases were caused by the same virus that is now spreading.

Although most cases have been caused by visits to the Middle East, WHO recommends that any patient with unexplained pneumonia should be tested for the virus.