Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reported five deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, commonly known as coronavirus.
DOHA – Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reported five deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), commonly known as coronavirus.
In a statement, the Gulf country's Health Ministry said two of the five fatalities contracted the disease along with 14 other people during the last 24 hours, while the remaining three cases contracted the virus earlier.
The latest fatalities bring to 157 the number of people who had died from the virus in Saudi Arabia since September 2012.
A total of 511 infections have been reported in the kingdom since 2012.
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.
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