New Virus Stirs Concern, But No Restrictions

News is percolating among international travelers about what’s called the Novel Coronavirus, a new and deadly disease that can cause severe respiratory illness and fever. The number of people infected since it was spotted last year is very low so far – 34 people from April 2012 to May 2013 according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control – but the death rate is high and there is no specific treatment for it. Many cases have been linked to countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and most recently a tourist from France is believed to have caught the virus when visiting Dubai (and his hospital roommate in France became infected). The World Health Organization currently is not recommending any special screening at borders nor is it recommending any travel or trade restrictions because of the Novel Coronavirus.