The World Health Organisation says a new mysterious respiratory virus, that has killed at least one person and left another in critical condition, does not appear very contagious.

A WHO spokesman told reporters in Geneva. Rapid progress is being made in characterising the disease and developing diagnostic tests. The origin of the virus is still unknown. The UN health agency says the illness is in the coronavirus family, which includes the deadly SARS virus as well as the common cold. It’s caused the death of a Saudi national and left a Qatari man seriously ill.

The two known cases occurred three months apart and there is no clear connection between the two men.

The WHO is working closely with its international partners in order to better understand the public health risk from the virus.

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(Source: CNTV.cn)