RIYADH – The Ministry of Health said on Saturday that one more person has died from the SARS-like coronavirus MERS-CoV and six new cases were registered as international experts urged countries to standardize their approach to treating the disease. An elderly Saudi man has died from the MERS virus, bringing the Kingdom's death toll from the SARS-like infection to 33, the Health Ministry said. The 81-year-old man died in the Eastern Province, where most cases of coronavirus have been registered, the ministry said on its website late Friday. The latest cases bring the total number infected worldwide to 70, with 39 having died since MERS-CoV was identified last year. The experts meeting at the World Health Organization's Cairo office said countries should enhance surveillance for acute respiratory illness, quickly investigate clusters of pneumonia and report confirmed or probable cases within 24 hours. “Fast and complete reporting of cases, with contact histories, clinical care and treatment outcomes in as much detail as possible, and collected in a uniform manner across countries, is necessary,” they said in an emailed statement. The experts said in a statement after the meeting on Saturday that countries hosting mass gatherings where MERS-CoV was a risk should develop specific plans, without giving details. As well as announcing the latest death, the Saudi Health Ministry said late on Friday a 41-year-old woman in Riyadh was in a stable condition with the disease, and that a 32-year-old with cancer was also being treated. On Thursday, it confirmed four new cases, including three health workers, who have all recovered. — Agencies
