Deadly MERS virus spreading out of control in Saudi Arabia, leaps to Egypt as global pandemic begins

Egypt's state news agency says authorities have detected the first case of a SARS-like virus in the country.

MENA says a 27-year-old civil engineer was diagnosed Saturday after returning from Saudi Arabia, where the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, has been centered. It says the man was quarantined upon his arrival at Cairo airport Friday and transported to a nearby hospital.

Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry said late Friday that five more people in the kingdom have died from MERS.

The ministry says 92 people have died and 313 have contracted the virus in Saudi since September 2012. MERS can cause symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure.

King Abdullah fired his health minister Monday as officials struggle to alleviate public concerns amid a spike in infections.



Source