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Coronavirus patient dies in Birmingham hospital Coronavirus patient dies in Birmingham hospital
(30 days later)
A patient being treated for a new form of a Sars-like virus has died at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham.A patient being treated for a new form of a Sars-like virus has died at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham.
The patient, the fourth in the UK and the third in one family to be identified with the respiratory illness caused by the newly identified coronavirus, became the first British fatality in this country when they died in the hospital's critical care unit on Sunday.The patient, the fourth in the UK and the third in one family to be identified with the respiratory illness caused by the newly identified coronavirus, became the first British fatality in this country when they died in the hospital's critical care unit on Sunday.
The hospital said in a statement: "The patient was already an outpatient … undergoing treatment for a long-term, complex unrelated health condition. The patient was immuno-compromised and is believed to have contracted the virus from a relative who is being treated for the condition in a Manchester hospital."The hospital said in a statement: "The patient was already an outpatient … undergoing treatment for a long-term, complex unrelated health condition. The patient was immuno-compromised and is believed to have contracted the virus from a relative who is being treated for the condition in a Manchester hospital."
The hospital was working closely with the Health Protection Agency, which is has already followed up more than 100 other household members and contacts.The hospital was working closely with the Health Protection Agency, which is has already followed up more than 100 other household members and contacts.
The patient is one of three family members from the West Midlands affected by the virus. The first, a man who had recently travelled to the Middle East and Pakistan, was admitted to the Manchester hospital this month, and was the first UK resident to be identified with the infection. He was reported to have fallen ill on 26 January and was diagnosed with a severe illness on 31 January.The patient is one of three family members from the West Midlands affected by the virus. The first, a man who had recently travelled to the Middle East and Pakistan, was admitted to the Manchester hospital this month, and was the first UK resident to be identified with the infection. He was reported to have fallen ill on 26 January and was diagnosed with a severe illness on 31 January.
The HPA said the remaining family member was recovering from a mild respiratory illness. He or she has been advised not to meet people from outside the family as a precaution.The HPA said the remaining family member was recovering from a mild respiratory illness. He or she has been advised not to meet people from outside the family as a precaution.
In total, the HPA has identified and followed up more than 100 people who had close contact with the cases in the family cluster. Tests carried out on them to date have been negative for the infection.In total, the HPA has identified and followed up more than 100 people who had close contact with the cases in the family cluster. Tests carried out on them to date have been negative for the infection.
Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the agency, said: "The routes of transmission to humans ... have not yet been fully determined, but the recent UK experience provides strong evidence of human-to-human transmission in at least some circumstances.Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the agency, said: "The routes of transmission to humans ... have not yet been fully determined, but the recent UK experience provides strong evidence of human-to-human transmission in at least some circumstances.
"The three recent cases in the UK represent an important opportunity to obtain more information about the characteristics of this infection in humans and risk factors for its acquisition, particularly in the light of the first ever recorded instance of apparently lower severity of illness in one of the cases," said Watson."The three recent cases in the UK represent an important opportunity to obtain more information about the characteristics of this infection in humans and risk factors for its acquisition, particularly in the light of the first ever recorded instance of apparently lower severity of illness in one of the cases," said Watson.
"The risk of infection in contacts in most circumstances is still considered to be low and the risk associated with novel coronavirus to the general UK population remains very low.""The risk of infection in contacts in most circumstances is still considered to be low and the risk associated with novel coronavirus to the general UK population remains very low."
The first person in the UK to be confirmed with the disease was a 49-year-old Qatari man who was flown from Doha to London in September and is still in hospital.The first person in the UK to be confirmed with the disease was a 49-year-old Qatari man who was flown from Doha to London in September and is still in hospital.
There have been 12 confirmed cases worldwide. Three people in Saudi Arabia and two in Jordan have also died.There have been 12 confirmed cases worldwide. Three people in Saudi Arabia and two in Jordan have also died.
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