Riyadh (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday confirmed seven more deaths of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in the capital Riyadh, taking the toll up to 498 in the oil-rich kingdom.

The Saudi Health Ministry said in a statement that new seven infections of the virus have been identified in Riyadh.

Earlier, the ministry confirmed the infection of 49 people with the virus in a week ending on Aug. 22.

Saudi Arabia has identified 1,162 infections of the virus since its appearance in the kingdom in 2012.

The MERS virus can cause symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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