14 cases of lower respiratory infection caused by a new coronavirus (not the original SARS virus, but with a similar picture) occurred in the past year. Mortality rate of this virus is >50%.
Area of the world affected:
Arabian Peninsula
United Kingdom
Relevance to the US physician:
Suspect this with a lower respiratory tract infection not responding to therapy and a travel history
Person to person transmission possible
Can have coinfection with influenza
PCR testing can be done at the CDC in suspected cases
Bottom Line:
Consider this infection in patients with a lower respiratory tract infection who have traveled to or had contact with someone who traveled to the above regions in the past 10 days.
ASK ABOUT RECENT TRAVELS IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION!
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
