France confirms SARS-like virus

FRANCE has confirmed that a man is being treated in a northern French hospital with a deadly new respiratory virus similar to SARS.

Health authorities say they are trying to find anyone who might have been in contact with the 65-year-old man to prevent it from spreading.

The novel coronavirus has killed 18 people worldwide since it was first identified last year in the Middle East. It can cause acute pneumonia and kidney failure.

The patient fell ill after returning from a nine-day holiday in the United Arab Emirates.

He was hospitalised with respiratory problems in Valenciennes on April 23, and moved to Douai a week later.