Doctors around the world have been put on the alert after the emergence of a deadly new lung virus in the Middle East.
So far two patients have died and four others have been diagnosed with the virus, a coronavirus, similar to the SARS virus that caused panic a few years ago.
The World Health Organisation says it cannot be sure the virus is confined to the two countries where it has been found, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
It has called on health services around the world to test all patients with unexplained pneumonia, even if they have no links with the Middle East.
So far the only links for infection have been found between two family members infected in Saudi Arabia. A total of four new cases were reported over the weekend.
A WHO spokesman said: "Until more information is available, it is prudent to consider that the virus is likely more widely distributed than just the two countries which have identified cases.
"Member States should consider testing of patients with unexplained pneumonias for the new coronavirus even in the absence of travel or other associations with the Middle East.
"In addition, any clusters of sudden acute respiratory infection or sudden acute respiratory infection in health care workers should be thoroughly investigated regardless of where in the world they occur."
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