New coronavirus found in Middle East

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday it is boosting its efforts to identify and contain a newly discovered virus.

So far, the novel type of coronavirus has been only been found in one Qatari patient who recently suffered acute respiratory disease and kidney failure and in a Saudi Arabian who died earlier this year.

The large coronavirus family includes common cold viruses as well as the severe acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that caused a pandemic 10 years ago.

"Though it is a very different virus to SARS, given the severity of the two confirmed cases so far, WHO is engaged in further characterizing the novel coronavirus," the Geneva-based UN body said.

The WHO plans to issue information about symptoms to help health agencies detect the illness.

The WHO informed health authorities around the globe that they should be watching out for patients with acute respiratory syndrome - possibly including fever and coughing - if other causes for the symptons can be ruled out. Other telltale signs include problems with the lower airways.

The patient must have either had contact with another infected person or have recently travelled to Qatar or Saudi Arabia to fulfil the criteria for a suspect case.

The Qatari patient, currently being treated in London, recently travelled to Saudi Arabia.