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The SARS virus, also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, is a viral respiratory disease in humans and during late 2002 through the summer of 2003 infected thousands in Hong Kong and killed close to a thousand globally. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which includes ones that cause the common cold and Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

It was reported today, that while the world watched the EMMY Awards, a new respiratory illness similar to the SARS virus that spread globally in 2002 and killed hundreds of people has been identified in a man who is being treated in Britain. This new virus is different from any coronaviruses that have previously been identified in humans.

The 49-year-old man, who was transferred to a London hospital by air ambulance from Qatar, is the second person confirmed with the coronavirus. The first case was a patient in Saudi Arabia who has since died.

Peter Openshaw, director of the Centre for Respiratory Infection at Imperial College London, told Reuters that at this stage the novel virus looked unlikely to prove a concern, and may well only have been identified due to sophisticated testing techniques.

Prof John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the UK's Health Protection Agency, said: "In the light of the severity of the illness that has been identified in the two confirmed cases, immediate steps have been taken to ensure that people who have been in contact with the UK case have not been infected, and there is no evidence to suggest that they have.

"Further information about these cases is being developed for healthcare workers in the UK, as well as advice to help maintain increased vigilance for this virus."

So far, there has been no travel restrictions issued and as with most diseases, early detection is always a positive step in containing any potential outbreaks.

Just as one the spotlights used in last night award ceremonies drew a bead on Jimmy Fallon as the host....let's hope that one of the other ones is trained directly on this new virus to keep us all safe.