The Point.fr - Published - Modified
This virus is "fortunately less infectious than SARS," said Professor Guery the University Hospital of Lille, where both hospitalized patients infected.
The Ministry of Health announced on the night of Saturday to Sunday as the man who had shared for three days, from April 27 to 29, the patient's room at the hospital in Valenciennes, while respiratory disease was not yet known, was well contracted coronavirus (NCoV). These results confirm a transmission from man to man, rare, but possible virus: "This means that once you have an infection, there is a progression that occurs with lung disease can become severe, as c This is the case in this patient, "said on France 2 Guery Professor of Infectious Diseases service Lille University Hospital.
However, coronavirus nCoV is "fortunately less infectious than SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)," said Professor Guery.
"We should not worry"
The specialist "believes we should not worry," given the location "well defined" virus (mainly the Saudi Arabia ) and its "low infectivity". "It is a virus that has been around for a little over a year, and has 34 cases, while for SARS in a few months, we reached 8000 cases," he said.
At midday, the second patient was transferred from the infectious diseases service of resuscitation, because "a deterioration in his clinical condition," according to the University Hospital of Lille. This patient is more difficult to breathe, because "its oxygen requirements have worsened," said a spokeswoman, but it is not at this stage placed on a respirator, in contrast to the first patient.
The necessary steps are taken
According to Professor Guery, if appropriate measures are taken, "there is a risk is extremely low to have secondary infections, except of course if there were changes in the virus." In parallel, the first patient, a 65 year old man hospitalized in intensive care, was still in a "very serious" condition Sunday that "stabilized", according to the hospital.
A special device was developed at the University Hospital of Lille, with the backing of "dedicated teams trained to manage infectious situations. These are the same teams that rotate to avoid possible contamination" of other members of staff, said the spokesman. The Minister of Health, Marisol Touraine will hold a press conference in 16 hours.
