Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has reported that 348 people have died in the kingdom after contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers).
The ministry’s latest figures, released late Tuesday, include two recent deaths in the capital Riyadh. This brings the number of confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia since the virus was first identified in 2012 to 810.
The virus has since spread to other parts of the world. Mers belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that includes the common cold and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).
Saudi Arabia has increased its efforts to improve preventive measures after a number of health workers died from the virus earlier this year.