France confirms first case of deadly new Sars-related virus

A 65-year-old Frenchman is hospitalised after contracting France’s first case of a deadly new respiratory virus related to Sars.

Last night French health authorities said they are trying to find anyone who might have been in contact with him to prevent it from spreading.

It’s unclear how or where the man was infected with the novel coronavirus, which has killed 18 people in four countries and raised new public health concerns since being identified last year in the Middle East. It can cause acute pneumonia and kidney failure.