On the background of a possible human-to-human transmission
A first cluster was reported in a cluster in a family in Saudi Arabia in 2012. In this family, two males were infected, in which a very narrow, unprotected contact with the care of the patient was considered as a transmission as possible.
In February 2013 last three disease cases had been confirmed with the novel coronavirus from the UK. This affected a patient who had visited before his illness in Saudi Arabia, and two family members of the index patient. One of the family members died, the other was diagnosed with milder respiratory symptoms and recovered quickly.
Risk assessment
There is still no evidence of continuous human-to-human transmission. In Germany, there has been only one imported case of disease, while no secondary infections. The risk of contact persons becoming infected is low overall and the general population is extremely low.
In the care of probable cases in the hospital shall continue, mainly because of the severe course of the previously known diseases, strict hygiene measures carried out according to the recommendations for diseases caused by the SARS virus. For patients receiving further clarification also specifically avoid contact with sick persons with history of travel with respect to the Arabian Peninsula, are in demand.
The Robert Koch Institute has possibly further differential diagnostic laboratory tests (see case definition of the RKI of 12 December 2012). The specific diagnosis of novel coronavirus has been established at the Robert Koch Institute and the Institute of Virology at the University of Bonn (see also notes the RKI for laboratory diagnostics).
For more information
Table of confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus (HCoV-EMC) (PDF, 100KB, file is not accessible)
Recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute for Hygiene and infection control in patients with heavy acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (PDF, 49KB, file is not accessible)
Case definition of the RKI to severe respiratory disease associated with a novel coronavirus (12/12/2012) (PDF, 118KB, file is not accessible)
Notes for the laboratory diagnosis of suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome due to infection with a new human beta 2c EMC/2012 coronavirus (HCoV-EMC)
As of 13/03/2013 http://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/C/Corona/Risikoeinschaetzung.html