15 die from SARS-like virus

Fifteen people in Saudi Arabia have died from a SARS-like virus out of 24 people who contracted it since last August. Experts are still grappling to understand all aspects of the virus and how humans become infected with “this new virus is not the SARS virus.” Since the virus was first recorded in September 2012, there have been 34 cases reported worldwide, and 18 of those have died, according to the WHO. While it has been deadliest in Saudi Arabia, cases have also been reported in Jordan, Germany, Britain and France where two patients are now in hospital in the northern city of Lille. It is a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which triggered a scare 10 years ago.


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SARS virus image via Shuterstock