Recent developments

RAPID RISK ASSESSMENT
Severe respiratory disease associated 
with a novel coronavirus
19 February 2013

Recent developments
On 11 February 2013, the HPA published details of a male UK resident (Case 10) with confirmed novel coronavirus
infection who had travelled to Pakistan and the Middle-East, developed respiratory symptoms on 24 January 2013
and then had arrived unwell in the UK on 28 January 2013 [1]. While staying with his family at home his condition
deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital where he is in intensive care. On 6 February 2013, a male household
member (Case 11) who had contact with Case 10 from his arrival until hospital admission fell unwell. This patient
had an existing medical condition that may have made him more susceptible to a severe respiratory infection. His
respiratory condition deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital, where he was in intensive care but
subsequently died.
The third confirmed case is a younger female family member, who only had exposure to the original index case 
while he was in hospital. She became ill on 5 February 2013 with a typical flu like illness, which did not require 
hospital admission and from which she has now fully recovered. Unlike the source case (Case 10), neither Case 11
nor 12 have travelled abroad recently. HPA is actively investigating the possible route of infection. Infection control
measures around the three cases are following national UK guidance and case-finding is on-going for those who
may have been exposed. Active follow-up of contacts of the three confirmed cases had not detected any further
confirmed secondary cases by 18 February 2013.
....Only the most recent case (Case 12) has shown mild influenza-like symptoms. All other confirmed patients have 
presented with severe lower respiratory tract infection such as pneumonia. A number of cases have also developed 
renal failure during the course of illness. The proportion of deaths is high; six out of twelve with two others still 
receiving high level care. The age range is from 25 to 60 years and a noticeable feature is that only two cases are 
female...
  http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/novel-coronavirus-rapid-risk-assessment-update.pdf