Updated: 09/26/2012 07:50

Hospitals informed to ensure vigilance after WHO issues global alert on new virus

®Copyright MediaCorp

The Ministry of Health is monitoring the situation closely after the World Health Organisation or WHO issued a global alert on an unknown virus related to the deadly SARS infection.

It has informed all hospitals of the alert to ensure vigilance in monitoring the situation.

The ministry adds that for now, there is no need for any additional measures to be taken until more information is available.

The UN Health body issued the alert on two confirmed cases of severe pneumonia with acute renal failure.

It said the cases are linked to a novel coronavirus belonging to the same virus family as SARS-coronavirus.

The WHO added that at present, there is no evidence to suggest that the cases are linked or that there is an ongoing transmission of the virus.