coronavirus update today also warns that its severity may not be apparent for months after an infection.

 

coronavirus update today also warns that its severity may not be apparent for months after an infection.

 

"The symptoms often manifest initially as low grade fever, lethargy, aches and pains," said the update, which was published today in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and is accompanied by a 22-page editorial.

 

"As the illness progresses, flu-like symptoms such as a headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing problems, dizziness, tiredness, and confusion may occur." These problems usually develop 10 to 14 days after exposure, and when they do symptoms can last up to three months.

 

The advisory does not give figures for how many have died from the coronavirus - but a report earlier this year estimated that 271 had been killed - at least 95 of whom were from the Middle East.

 

Thousands of people have been infected by the virus since it was discovered in the northern Middle East, but the majority have not shown any severe symptoms and the vast majority have recovered.

 

A new study, by Cambridge University, found the virus was generally very infectious.

 

This adds to recent warnings by Dr Ron Fouchier, a microbiologist at the University of Leuven in Belgium, who earlier this year warned that the fatal virus - identified as the H5N1 strain - could mutate to cause "dangerous" mutations that could be used to create biological weapons.

 

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that share a similar form of disease and are often called "common colds".

 

The coronavirus is currently considered to be a threat to humans only because of its ability to kill very young children.

 

Early warning

 

The new advisory also warns that a much lower standard of disease control in hospitals and healthcare workers in the Middle East may mean the virus does not pose the risk it has shown in parts of Asia.

 

This effect is likely to be seen in the cases of patients with acute respiratory disease who develop a severe cough.

 

This may help the virus in the long-term as the majority of people who develop the disease are already suffering from lung conditions or have blood diseases.

 

The research was funded by the Wellcome Trust and the MRC.

 

Previous investigations have shown that half of the people who have been infected by the coronavirus are in their early twenties or above.

 

Dr Zhaopin Chen, director of the outbreak response at the Middle East Health Organisation, said in a statement: "It is premature to draw firm conclusions at this stage about the potential severity of this outbreak."

 

"What we need to do now is to continue to strengthen control measures, in addition to increasing public awareness and further enhancing ongoing epidemiological surveillance."

 

Coronaviruses are very common and are responsible for several major outbreaks in the Middle East over the past few years.

 

Reports of severe illness caused by coronaviruses are rare, although there have been several outbreaks of the coronavirus causing acute respiratory disease in children, which have been associated with severe disease, but with a limited number of cases.

 

Conn Carroll, media and campaigns manager at the BMA, said that although the impact of the coronavirus was not immediately obvious, the research "shows that the coronavirus can cause very severe illness".

 

"Despite the evidence that the virus can cause severe illness, the extent of the disease in this country, and across the world, is not yet fully known," he said.

 

"This research helps us understand the nature of this infection and identifies some key factors that may affect the severity of the illness."

 

Dr Luisa Zuccolo, chair of the infectious diseases committee at the Royal College of GPs, said: "The latest update from the World Health Organisation is reassuring. It highlights that there has been no obvious impact on patient health.

 

"However, it is not clear what the long-term impact of the coronavirus will be on people who have been infected.

 

"At the moment, people with suspected cases of coronavirus can be cared for in healthcare facilities under excellent infection control measures, while in hospitals, strict infection control measures are in place for patients that are being admitted with a severe respiratory illness.

 

"Our advice is still the same: if anyone has symptoms of this severe illness, call the NHS 111 or 999 emergency services and they will be able to offer advice and treatment."

 

The coronavirus is known as the "common cold" virus, but due to its ability to cause severe disease people have been warned not to dismiss it as merely a common cold.

 

As well as causing acute illness, coronaviruses can affect other parts of the body, including the blood and the