Manchester medics are treating the UK's second ever SARS virus case

11 Feb 2013 14:25
The man, who has recently travelled to the Middle East, is in intensive care at Wytheshawe hospital


Coronavirus, which includes the Sars-like virus currently affecting patients.
A man is seriously ill in Wythenshawe Hospital after contracting a potentially fatal Sars-like virus.

The victim, who has recently travelled to the Middle East and Pakistan, is being treated in the hospital’s critical care unit.

It is only the second case of the virus to be confirmed in Britain, medics have revealed.

The MEN understands that the man, who is middle-aged and lives in the West Midlands, was transferred to Wythenshawe from another hospital last week after being admitted with flu-like symptoms and severe breathing problems.

It is thought that his illness was confirmed by doctors at Wythenshawe after blood tests and he is now being treated in an individual isolation room.

Doctors and nurses who are treating him are wearing protective gowns – and masks – to ensure they do not become infected.

He was transferred to Wythenshawe to undergo highly-specialist treatment, called Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

Wythenshawe is the only hospital in the north of England to offer the therapy, which is commonly used to treat swine flu patients.

The life-support technique uses a £40,000 machine which takes blood from the heart, removes carbon dioxide, and pumps oxygen into it before pushing it back around the body.

Chief nurse Mandy Bailey said: “Wythenshawe can confirm that it is treating a patient who has been diagnosed with novel coronavirus.

“We are working closely with the Health Protection Agency to ensure that anyone who has had contact with the patient is being followed up to check on their health. We are also ensuring that the patient under investigation is being treated appropriately.

“Our staff already follow strict guidelines on treating patients with unknown illnesses and have been wearing personal protective equipment at all times since their initial contact. Visitors are being limited and they too will follow strict safety guidelines.”

Officials at the Health Protection Agency said that the patient is one of 10 confirmed cases around the world. The death toll stands at five.

Five cases have been confirmed in Saudi Arabia – including three deaths; two cases were recorded in Jordan – both patients have died; one patient in Germany has recovered and last year British health experts confirmed another case.

A 49-year-old Qatari man was treated at St Thomas' hospital in London after becoming infected.

Coronaviruses range from the common cold to the Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus and are spread through sneezing and coughing.

In 2002, an outbreak of Sars killed about 800 people, mainly in Asia but it spread to more than 30 countries across the globe.

The new coronavirus was first identified in September 2012 in a patient in Saudi Arabia who has since died. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the HPA, said: "The HPA is providing advice to healthcare workers to ensure the patient under investigation is being treated appropriately and that healthcare staff who are looking after the patient are protected.

Contacts of the case are also being followed up to check on their health.

"Our assessment is that the risk associated with novel coronavirus to the general UK population remains extremely low and the risk to travellers to the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding countries remains very low.

"No travel restrictions are in place but people who develop severe respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, within 10 days of returning from these countries should seek medical advice and mention which countries they have visited.”

Alice McKeegan explains why we're seeing this case now
The new virus is a type of coronavirus, which includes the common cold and Sars.

Health officials say it is similar to Sars but they do not know exactly how the new strain has developed.

SARS – or severe acute respiratory syndrome – is a highly contagious, serious and potentially life-threatening form of pneumonia.

It is caused by the Sars coronavirus – and begins with flu-like symptoms. The virus was first diagnosed in southern China in 2002 and quickly spread across the world.

A pandemic was declared and more than 8,000 people were struck down by the illness.

Statistics show that 774 victims were killed by the virus before the outbreak was brought under control in July 2003.

Symptoms include breathing difficulties, a dry cough, muscle pain, and extreme tiredness. It attacks the airways – and it is spread through coughing and sneezing.

There is currently no cure – but doctors are trying to develop a vaccine. Most patients are put on ventilators to support their breathing and given antiviral drugs. They are also kept in isolation to avoid spreading the virus.

People over the age of 65 are particularly vulnerable but experts say that people should not be too alarmed by the latest cases.http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....k-sars-1310263