RIYADH
Saudi Arabia on Friday reported seven new deaths from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), commonly known as coronavirus, bringing the total number of MERS-related fatalities in the kingdom to 133 since 2012.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said another ten people had contracted the virus, bringing the total number of virus infections in the country to 473 since September 2012.
Half of the new cases of infection were recorded in Riyadh, while four were registered in Jeddah, the ministry said.
The latest cases bring to 102 the total number of cases registered this month. Of these, 22 have been fatal.
MERS, for which no cure is currently known, destroys the lungs and kidneys.
Along with Saudi Arabia, MERS has also been reported in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt and Oman.
It is presumed that long-term physical contact with infected persons can lead to contagion.
By Ahmed al-Masri
englishnews@aa.com.tr
