世界卫生组织警告：中东的冠状病毒可能会引发全球性的SARS（急性呼吸系统综合征）
新病毒定名
新型SARS病毒被世界卫生组织命名为MERS-Cov（中东地区呼吸综合征冠状病毒）。病毒通过人与人之间的接触感染，沙特政府认为最初的传染是通过动物向人类传染的，但是目前还不能确定是何种动物，沙特卫生部证实，到今晨为止，该国又有3人死于该病毒。
除沙特阿拉伯外，在约旦、卡塔尔、突尼斯、阿拉伯联合酋长国、德国和英国也同样发现感染病例。据悉，MERS-Cov是2003年引发全球恐慌的SARS（急性呼吸系统综合征）的表亲，同属冠状病毒，感染者多会出现严重的呼吸系统综合征并伴有急性肾衰竭。
此前，世界卫生组织也提醒说，MERS-Cov是现在最需要关注的问题。世界卫生组织称，新型冠状病毒2012年9月份首次被发现，距一名科学家将采样从沙特带去荷兰伊拉兹马斯医学中心时隔三个月。
周一，世界卫生组织总干事陈冯富珍在瑞士日内瓦表示，自己非常关注新型冠状病毒的情况，由于人们对这种病毒知之甚少，这个病毒已经成为了全球的一大危险。她表示目前世界卫生组织对于这种病毒从何而来，如何传播均不了解，所以这给世界敲响了警钟。
陈冯富珍表示：“环顾全球卫生情况，我现在最大的关切就是新型冠状病毒，当我们审视这种病毒的潜在威胁时，我们发现我们对这种病毒了解太少了，新型冠状病毒不仅仅是那些受影响国家要解决的问题，也不该全由这些国家自己解决，新型冠状病毒对全世界都是一个威胁。”
法国政府本月早期开始建议前往中东的游客经常洗手，尽量减少和动物的接触。不过，法国卫生部长杜函娜表示，对此不必过度担心。28日，第一位受到感染的65岁法国人在医院死亡之后，沙特卫生部官员称全世界已有49名确认的感染病例。
Amid growing concerns about the increasing number of confirmed cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the World Health Organization (WHO) has advised healthcare workers worldwide to be on the alert for symptoms of the often-fatal disease. “There have been several examples where the virus has moved from one country to another through travelers,” a WHO spokesperson indicated. “Consequently, all countries in the world need to ensure that their healthcare workers are aware of the virus and the disease it can cause and that, when unexplained cases of pneumonia are identified, MERS-CoV should be considered.”
The disease, which is related to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that arose in Saudi Arabia in 2012, has been confirmed by laboratory testing in 55 people—40 in Saudi Arabia, and smaller numbers in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Thirty-one patients have died. The source of the virus has not been identified, and there are increasing indications that it can spread among people who are in close contact with an infected individual. The WHO has not yet issued guidance for travelers. The annual haj pilgrimage, which brings Muslims from around the world to Saudi Arabia, is coming up in October.
In the meantime, the WHO has released new guidance on “Pandemic Influenza Risk Management,” with reference to H5N1 and H7N9. Download the guidance in PDF form.