Saudi Arabia has reported an alarming increase in deaths caused by MERS as well as new infections within the past week.
According to the BBC, 17 people have died in Saudi Arabia within the past seven days, although other media outlets are reporting different numbers. Gulf News reported 15 deaths and TIME has reported 19. Arab News reported only 4 deaths but did not clarify the time period.
TIME and Arab News both reported that the total number of fatalities in the kingdom had risen to 502 since the outbreak first started in June 2012. Additionally, both publications reported that there have been 1,171 cases total within the kingdom.
Arab News reported six new cases but again did not specify an exact time period. Gulf News reported 47 new cases in the kingdom within the past 7 days.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health said that the latest victims include four Saudi citizens in Riyadh aged 75, 63, 58 and 87, according to Arab News. The six new cases cited by Arab News are all Saudi nationals as well.
MERS is a viral respiratory infection causing fever, coughing and breathing difficulties. It is related to the infamous SARS virus but considered less contagious. The current outbreak centers mainly around one particular hospital in Riyadh and the Ministry of Health has now shut down the facility's emergency room.
The surge in the virus comes as some 2 million people are expected to enter the kingdom next month for hajj. Some health workers within the kingdom, who may have been in contact with MERS patients, have been forbidden from taking part in the annual pilgrimage.