The Health Ministry has issued emergency instructions to hospitals and doctors in the wake of a new virus recently discovered in Saudi Arabia. A report over the weekend said that a Qatari man had been recently admitted to hospital after traveling to Saudi Arabia suffering from acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure, and transferred from Qatar to London, where the diagnosis of a new corona virus, related to SARS, was made. The victim later died of the virus.

A report said that the Ministry had ordered hospitals and doctors to isolate individuals found to be suffering from similar conditions, and to take extraordinary precautions when examining such patients. Currently there is no treatment for the virus, the Ministry said.