Eleven cases of potentially deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus have been recorded in Jeddah, said Saudi Arabian authorities. As per Jeddah health authority, two of the patients died, six have made recovery and remaining three have been undergoing treatment.

Two hospitals in Jeddah have found their workers to be tested positive for the virus. For the purpose of disinfection, the emergency department of King Fahd hospital in Jeddah was closed. One health workers of the hospital was tested positive for the virus and tests on other staff members also showed further infections.

The health authority said owing to disinfection procedure, some of the patients have been transferred to other hospitals. Earlier, a nurse at King Abdel Aziz hospital was tested positive for the virus, but no other was worker was tested positive for the virus.

It has been assured by the health authority that no other hospital in Jeddah had recorded any case. Rumors were going on that two more deaths have taken place due to MERS virus, but the health authority has denied the rumors.
It was in 2012 that MERS emerged in the Middle East for the first time. The virus is said to be from the same family as the SARS virus. It can cause cough, pneumonia and fever.

If its presence at global level is considered then number of MERS infections is quite small. But more than 40% death rate among confirmed cases and spread of the virus is what raising concerns among scientists and public health officials and keep them alert.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Tunisia, Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates and several countries Europe have reported MERS virus cases.