Saudi Arabia registers increase in MERS corona cases

Saudi Arabia registered an increase in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) corona virus cases, with one fatality and nine infections in the last 24 hours, according to a statement issued by the health ministry on Wednesday.

MERS, also known as Coronavirus, causes symptoms similar to colds in individuals it infects.

Twenty cases in Riyadh were reported in the week of Aug. 9 to 15, the statement said, without specifying the reason for the sudden increase in cases, especially in Riyadh.

Tamara Talal, head of the anti-virus transmission team, told local newspaper earlier this week that the increase in cases in Riyadh was due to the fact that the hospitals are not under the supervision of the ministry.

Talal said strict measures will be taken to normalize the situation.

The total number of confirmed MERS cases since its appearance in 2012 is 1,115, including 480 fatalities, according to the statistics from the ministry.

The health ministry has recently announced a free-of-contagious-diseases season, including MERS corona, amongst pilgrims who performed the Omra (minor Islamic pilgrimage) in the summer.