
The MERS coronavirus has killed 10 people and infected 68 in the United Arab Emirates since March 2013, the health minister said in comments published by local media on Wednesday
Health Minister Abdul Rahman al-Owais gave the latest toll in comments to the national federal council, a partially-elected parliament, saying six UAE nationals and four foreigners have died from the disease, local newspapers said.
He also said 68 people have been infected since March 2013 when the country's first case of MERS was diagnosed.
In April, health authorities in the UAE said a Filipino paramedic diagnosed with the disease in the eastern city of Al-Ain had died.
Neighbouring Saudi Arabia remains the country worst hit by the virus. The kingdom's health ministry revised its own death toll from the virus on Tuesday from 190 to 282 people.
It said the hike was due to a "comprehensive revision" tracing patients' files back to 2012, when the first case was diagnosed.
MERS is considered a deadlier but less transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that appeared in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, nine percent of whom died.
Like SARS, it appears to cause a lung infection, with patients suffering coughing, breathing difficulties and a temperature. But MERS differs in that it causes rapid kidney failure.
GMT 10:31 2018 Tuesday ,13 November
Russian police uproot 70 underground drug labs in past six monthsGMT 16:32 2018 Tuesday ,06 November
Rwanda aims to achieve universal access to clean water by 2024GMT 16:57 2018 Sunday ,04 November
Palestinian women witness higher cure rate of breast cancerGMT 13:11 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Emergency surgery saves life of touristGMT 10:44 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Scientists find microplastics in human stool for first timeGMT 09:18 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
US judge upholds Monsanto weedkiller cancer verdict, reduces payoutGMT 14:22 2018 Friday ,19 October
Birth spacing ‘improving health of Omani women’GMT 15:40 2018 Monday ,15 October
Pakistani president launches nationwide anti-measles driveMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor