Saudi Arabia sees 17 Mers deaths in past week

Saudi Arabia has announced four more deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), bringing the number of deaths in the past week to 17, according to the BBC.

According to reports, health officials admit they are worried by the timing as the kingdom prepares to welcome around two million Muslims for the Hajj next month.

Mers, which is caused by a coronavirus, a type of virus which includes the common cold and Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome), has been recorded in countries across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, but the virus first emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says many of the recent cases are associated with an outbreak at a hospital in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.

At least 515 people have died globally as a result of Mers since September 2012, according to the WHO.