Middle-East resident diagnosed with MERS virus in Britain after hajj pilgrimage

British health authorities have announced that a person in the north of England has been diagnosed with the potentially deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Public Health England said in an online statement on Thursday that the patient was a resident of the Middle East, where they are thought to have contracted the virus.

"Healthcare professionals are advised to remain vigilant for severe unexplained respiratory illness occurring in anyone who has recently travelled into the UK from the Middle East, particularly in light of increased travel associated with the hajj," the statement said.

The annual hajj pilgrimage took place in Saudi Arabia this week, drawing in over 2 million people from around the world.

The statement added that this was the fifth case of MERS diagnosed in England, with previous cases diagnosed in 2012 to 2013.

According to the WHO, the MERS virus that spreads the disease has been present in some camels in the Middle East region with those working with camels or drinking their raw milk at risk of catching the disease.

This link has caused Saudi Arabian authorities to ban the slaughter of camels for their meat in recent years.

The virus belongs to the family of viruses known as coronaviruses, which include both the common cold and SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.

SARS killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003.

The MERS virus can cause symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure.