Saudi Arabia reports 5 more MERS virus deaths

By: 11 years ago

RIYADH— Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry says five more patients who contracted a potentially fatal Middle East virus related to SARS have died in the kingdom as the number of reported infections from the disease there rises past 300.

The ministry said Friday the deaths were among 14 new cases of the Middle East respiratory syndrome detected in the cities of Riyadh, Jiddah and the Islamic holy city of Mecca.

Two other deaths were recorded a day earlier as the kingdom releases near-daily reports of a rising number of infections.

The ministry says 92 people have died and 313 have contracted the virus in the kingdom since September 2012.

On Monday, King Abdullah fired the country’s health minister as officials struggle to alleviate public concerns amid a spike in recent infections.