MERS Affects 11 More in One Week
Nurses wheel a patient in the emergency department at a Hospital in Makkah, in this September 30, 2014 file photo. (Reuters)
RIYADH: The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) hit 11 people last week, according to the weekly report from the Ministry of Health.
“There were confirmed cases registered last week (May 24-30) in both Hofuf and Taif,” the ministry said.
The rate of infection seems to be fluctuating from one week to another as last week only four cases were registered, while the previous week saw 12 new cases.
The ministry noted that this figure is less than the figure of 13 registered in the same period last year.
“The alert status against the virus will continue,” it said.
The ministry announced Sunday the recovery of a 59-year-old expatriate woman in Riyadh from the virus and the death from the virus of a 57-year-old Saudi man, but there were no new cases.
So far, 1,014 confirmed cases have been registered since the discovery of the virus in June 2012.
It is believed that the high rate of deaths are mostly attributed to poor immunity in patients who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disorders and obesity.
The ministry said it is continuing to take all necessary measures to fight the virus in its health care facilities and are following the strict compliance of these measures at private hospitals.