The number of Saudi Arabians who have died from the MERS coronavirus has reached 55 after officials confirmed that a 37-year old man was the latest to succumb to the disease.
A statement posted on the Ministry of Health’s website on Sunday said that the man had died in Riyadh.
According to the ministry, 130 people have been diagnosed with MERS in the Gulf kingdom since September last year.
Saudi Arabians have accounted for the vast majority of the worldwide death count of 64, with the World Health Organisation so far counting 155 cases globally.
Other countries that have reported cases of MERS infection include the UAE, Qatar, UK, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, France and Tunisia.
Scientists say they believe dromedary camels in the Middle East may be the animal “reservoir” which is fuelling the outbreak.
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