"It is unusual and it is different from SARS," Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the WHO, said at a news conference on Tuesday. "I need to emphasize again and again that this is not SARS, it will not become SARS ... It is distinct from SARS at least in the fact that ... it causes very rapid renal failure."

Wang agreed.

"Our test shows that the part of RNA sequence (the center got from Britain) is 73.6 percent similar to the SARS virus," he said.

Yet according to Hartl, not much is known about the virus and there is no indication that it is transmitted person-to-person because there were too few cases.

"Given the severity of the two confirmed cases so far, WHO is engaged in further characterizing the novel coronavirus," the organization said on its website.

However, Wang said that there is no need for panic in China.

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.

【Virus compared with SARS not found in China】相关文章：

★ Bills call for legalization of gay marriage in Australia

★ Newspapers warned over nude photos of Prince Harry

★ Most wanted Nazi suspect found in Budapest

★ British PM under pressure in selling access row

★ Flight simulators give pilots real training

★ Heavy tomes now make lighter reading

★ Worker wakes up without left kidney

★ From street food to museums, Chinese food hot in US

★ Clinton on landmark visit to Laos

★ Obama downplays use of US drones in Iraq