Saudi Arabia reports highest coronavirus deaths as it spreads through Middle East
Health |
Saudi Arabia has reported the highest number of fatalities from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), commonly known as coronavirus, in May.
In a Sunday statement, the Saudi Health Ministry said that 76 people had died from the virus in May. Only 47 people had lost their lives to the virus in April. A total of 187 MERS-related fatalities and 570 infections have been reported in Saudi Arabia since the virus first appeared in the kingdom in 2012.
MERS, for which no cure currently exists, is known for destroying 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 persons carrying the virus can lead to infection.
- Jordan announces new coronavirus death
A Jordanian man died on Sunday from an infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a health official said. The deceased was being treated at a university hospital at the time of his death, told Bashir al-Qassir, the head of the Jordanian Health Ministry's Health Care Department.
A medical worker in another Amman hospital has been infected with the virus, also known as coronavirus, he added.
The latest fatality brings to 5 the number of people killed from coronavirus infections in the Hashemite Kingdom since 2012, according to official reports.
Jordan has been among the most affected countries in the world by the virus.
- Algeria quarantines two coronavirus infections
Algerian authorities have quarantined two people suspected of contracting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), commonly known as coronavirus. "The two men have been quarantined after returning from Saudi Arabia," health official Ismail Mesbah told the Algerian radio on Sunday.
According to the health ministry, the two men, aged 66 and 69, had returned from Saudi Arabia, where they had performed Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).
The two cases are the first to have been reported in Algeria.
- What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), coronavirus?
MERS, for which no known cure is available, destroys the lungs and kidneys. Symptoms, which include persistent fever and cough, are similar to those associated with the SARS virus. It is presumed that long-term physical contact can lead to infection.
MERS, for which no cure currently exists, is known for destroying 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 persons carrying the virus can lead to infection.
- Jordan announces new coronavirus death
A Jordanian man died on Sunday from an infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a health official said. The deceased was being treated at a university hospital at the time of his death, told Bashir al-Qassir, the head of the Jordanian Health Ministry's Health Care Department.
A medical worker in another Amman hospital has been infected with the virus, also known as coronavirus, he added.
The latest fatality brings to 5 the number of people killed from coronavirus infections in the Hashemite Kingdom since 2012, according to official reports.
Jordan has been among the most affected countries in the world by the virus.
- Algeria quarantines two coronavirus infections
Algerian authorities have quarantined two people suspected of contracting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), commonly known as coronavirus. "The two men have been quarantined after returning from Saudi Arabia," health official Ismail Mesbah told the Algerian radio on Sunday.
According to the health ministry, the two men, aged 66 and 69, had returned from Saudi Arabia, where they had performed Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).
The two cases are the first to have been reported in Algeria.
- What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), coronavirus?
MERS, for which no known cure is available, destroys the lungs and kidneys. Symptoms, which include persistent fever and cough, are similar to those associated with the SARS virus. It is presumed that long-term physical contact can lead to infection.
