Infectious diseaseThird U.K. coronavirus infection suggests person-to-person transmission

A third person has contracted the new coronavirus and is being treated in an isolation room of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and is in stable condition.

Coronaviruses normally cause coughs as well as colds and is spread through droplets in the air, but this new variation has been known to cause severe pneumonia and, in some cases, kidney problems. According to medical experts, the new strain was detected three months ago and this is the first time it has been known to pass between people, which suggest it may not be prticularly infectious.

The Telegraph reports that the new strain is similar to bat viruses but the origin of the disease is still undetermined.

The other two confirmed cases travelled to the Middle East before contracting the disease. The disease is thought to have originated in the Middle East, but the patient currently being treated in Britain has not been abroad recently. He is, however,  related to another British patient confirmed on Monday,  who is being treated in Manchester.

Experts said there have been other linked cases around the world, but the current situation is the best evidence of person to person transmission.

The new patient has a long-term medical condition which made him more vulnerable to respiratory infections and the risk to the general population remains low.

Worldwide, there have been eleven cases diagnosed, and the disease has killed almost half of them.

John Watson, the head of the respiratory diseases department at the Health Protection Agency has a summary of the new diagnosis.

“Confirmed novel coronavirus infection in a person without travel history to the Middle East suggests that person-to-person transmission has occurred, and that it occurred in the U.K.

“This case is a family member who was in close personal contact with the earlier case and who may have been at greater risk of acquiring an infection because of their underlying health condition,” Watson told the Telegraph. “To date, evidence of person-to-person transmission has been limited. Although this case provides strong evidence for person to person transmission, the risk of infection in most circumstances is still considered to be very low.

“If novel coronavirus were more infectious, we would have expected to have seen a larger number of cases than we have seen since the first case was reported three months ago.

“However, this new development does justify, the measures that were immediately put into place to prevent any further spread of infection and to identify and follow up contacts of known cases.”

The Telegraph notes that originally, the new patient was treated in an open ward and even had visitors, but the condition of the patient’s health worsened on Sunday and he was moved to an isolation ward. A spokesperson for the hospital in Birmingham said the patient did not come into direct contact with any other patients.

Watson said that both the patient and the staff attending to the patient are being monitored.

“We will continue to provide advice and support to healthcare workers looking after the patients and to contacts of both cases,” Watson told the Telegraph. “In light of this latest case we would like to emphasize that the risk associated with novel coronavirus to the general U.K. population remains very low.

“The HPA will continue to work closely with national and international health authorities and will share any further advice with health professionals and the public if and when more information becomes available.”