MANCHESTER Royal Infirmary has closed its accident and emergency department while it investigates two patients with suspected Middle Eastern Respiratory Virus Syndrome (Mers).

Both patients have been isolated for ongoing clinical treatment and management of their condition, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.

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"We would like to reassure our patients and the general public that there is no significant risk to public health," the statement said.

"Manchester Royal Infirmary accident and emergency department will be closed until further notice while further investigations take place."

The last person to be diagnosed in the UK with the potentially deadly Sars-like virus was in February 2013, despite a recent rise in cases in the Middle East.

Dr Rosemary McCann, North West deputy director for Public Health England, said the risk of contracting the infection in the UK "remains very low".

"We are aware of two individuals being tested for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-CoV) in Manchester," she said.

"Although cases continue to be reported from the Middle East, no new cases of Mers-CoV have been detected in the UK since February 2013.

"There is presently no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of Mers-CoV, and the risk of contracting infection in the UK remains very low.

"The risk to UK residents travelling to Middle Eastern countries may be slightly higher than within the UK, but is still very low.

"Limited onward transmission in South Korea has been associated with health care settings, and the risk to UK tourists visiting South Korea is also considered to be very low."

North West Ambulance Service said it will be taking patients to the nearby North Manchester General Hospital during the closure.

Dr Derek Gatherer, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, said: "Outside hospitals the risk to the general public is extremely low and the outbreak ought not to cause concern.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Mers risk as being confined to those hospital workers not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and working within two metres of a case in a ward or those patients in the same room or ward as a confirmed case, or those who have contacted respiratory secretions from a case.

"Mers is a member of the same family of viruses as Sars, which caused a brief global panic in 2003, but is not a close relative.

"In the Middle East it has mostly been associated with the camel breeding industry with many cases in farm workers, and has also spread within Saudi hospitals with 466 deaths in total.

"There is no treatment for Mers other than a general symptomatic support for pneumonia, perhaps involving steroid drugs to widen airways and assist breathing. There is no vaccine at present."