The first person to fall sick in France from the novel coronavirus has died, according to the hospital in Valenciennes where he was undergoing treatment.

The 65-year-old man had been traveling in Dubai and was admitted to hospital at the end of April with a fever and respiratory problems.

A second man is also being treated for the virus in the same hospital.

The death comes as the World Health Organisation has warned that the entire world is under threat from the virus.

Novel coronavirus was first identified in September last year with the outbreak linked to a health care facility in Saudi Arabia.

Traces of the infection have been found in eight countries with 22 fatalities reported.

Coronoviruses can cause a range of problems from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which claimed the lives of 770 people in 2003.

euronews