U.S. medical authorities say they're keeping a close eye on the new SARS-like "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus," which emerged in Saudi Arabia last year.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, DR. ANTHONY S. FAUCI, SAYING:

"We don't know how people are getting infected. We are assuming that they are being exposed inadvertently to an infected animal. The characteristics are that it doesn't spread well at all from person to person, so it doesn't have what's called sustained transmissibility from you to me, from me to my family, etcetera.''

The virus has been found in Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, while isolated cases have been exported to France, Britain and Germany by visitors.

France reported its first death from the Coronavirus on Tuesday.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, DR. ANTHONY S. FAUCI, SAYING:

"Now, th