Headlines - Surveillance of Infections Associated with the Novel Coronavirus (NCoV)

On May 7, 2013, the first case of acute respiratory infection caused by the novel coronavirus (NCoV) was reported to the InVS by the National Reference Center (CNR) for Influenza Viruses at the Pasteur Institute. This was the first confirmed case in France. This new virus was identified in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. As of May 13, 2013, 34 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus had been reported worldwide (the vast majority in the Arabian Peninsula) since April 2012; 20 people have died. The surveillance system established by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance on October 1, 2012, has received 70 reports of suspected NCoV infections: only 2 have been confirmed by the CNR. The second French case was diagnosed on May 12, 2013. To date, both patients are hospitalized in intensive care and remain in serious condition. A third possible case is currently under investigation.