A man in France died Tuesday, after he contracted a SARS-like virus that has claimed 22 of its 44 known victims, according to the Associated Press.
The 65-year-old man, who has remained anonymous since his widely publicized death, was put in a local hospital as a result of breathing problems following a trip he made to Dubai in April.
The Associated Press reported that his roommate in the infirmary was also diagnosed with the deadly illness.
The virus is a relatively new one. It is called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV for short. It was first discovered and named in September 2012, after a man from Qatar was diagnosed with an infection in a British hospital, and a woman died from MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia.
MERS-CoV, similar to its related ailment severe acute respiratory syndrome, can lead to respiratory-related illnesses such as pneumonia, as well as failure of vital bodily organs. But unlike SARS, MERS-CoV does not spread easily from mere contact. SARS infected more than 8,000 people and claimed over 775 lives due to its highly contagious nature.
Most of the reported cases have occurred in the Arabian Peninsula, but the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a few cases in the United Kingdom and France.
The CDC released a statement in response to the recent MERS-CoV-related death, warning tourists of the potential danger the sickness bears.
"CDC recommends that U.S. travelers to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula monitor their health and see a doctor right away if they develop fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath," the agency said. "They should tell the doctor about their recent travel."
So far, Saudi Arabia has experienced 32 cases of MERS-CoV. The World Health Organization reported that 17 of them resulted in fatalities.
