The ministry also said that one patient, a man from the central region of Al-Qassim, had recovered from the decease during this period, according to the Saudi Gazette newspaper.
MERS is a viral respiratory disease with a high mortality rate. At least 800 people of 2,254 confirmed cases have died of the virus, associated with camels, since the global MERS pandemic started in 2012, according to the WHO.
The virus is transmitted from camels to people, with limited human-to-human transmission, according to the World Health Organization. The infection causes such symptoms as fever, cough and shortness of breath. There is currently no approved vaccine for MERS. People with chronic illnesses or a weak immune system are at a higher risk of contracting the viral respiratory disease.
