By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health reported this week a fatal case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in a 36-year-old male in Hafar Albatin city, Hafar Albatin.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) /CDC

The deceased reportedly had contact with camels.

This is the eighth MERS case of 2021 in the Kingdom and the 9th overall (one in the United Arab Emirates).

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus transferred to humans from infected dromedary camels, according to the World Health Organization.

It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted between animals and people, and it is contractable through direct or indirect contact with infected animals.

MERS-CoV has been identified in dromedaries in several countries in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. In total, 27 countries have reported 2,590 cases since 2012, leading to 941 known deaths due to the infection and related complications.