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World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that new coronavirus strain could be passed from human to human. virus, called nCoV-EMC, looks like offshoot of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed 775 people and infected 8,273 between 2002-03. However, WHO was quick to point out that new strain isn't as virulent as SARS. The warning came after 34th case worldwide came to light on Sunday. man is in "very serious but stable" condition in intensive care unit in France. It is believed he contracted virus while vacationing in Dubai in April. new coronavirus has already claimed lives of 18 people, 15 of fatalities being in Saudi Arabia.

Coronavirus causes respiratory illnesses in both humans and animals. Unlike SARS, which spread from birds and animals to humans, new strain could have mutated to spread between people. WHO spokesman, Keiji Fukuda, told reporters in Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday that new virus posed "important and major challenge" for those countries already affected and for whole world. He stressed that while new virus was not SARS, it was very worrying. He said: "Of most concern is fact that the different clusters seen in multiple countries increasingly support hypothesis that when there is close contact, this coronavirus can transmit from person to person".