Saudi reports 13 new cases of MERS coronavirus infection

The infection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in Saudi Arabia increased to 463, including 126 deaths with the registration of 13 new cases and 5 deaths on Friday. The Health Ministry highlighted in its portal that one of the deaths was among the new cases that were diagnosed in the last 24 hours, while four deaths were among old cases. They were four men, aged 47, 60, 84 and 54 respectively, and a woman aged 62. Two of the men were from Medina and the two from Mecca, while the woman was from Riyadh. A woman aged 54 from Jeddah was fully recovered. While among the new cases, five are in stable condition, six at the ICU and 2 without symptoms. Eight cases in Riyadh include five women and 3 men. Even with new cases and deaths on a daily basis, there is no indication yet how the infection could spread, while both Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization are asserting that the transmission of the virus isn't epidemic.