Saudi Arabian health official deflects MERS questions

October 3, 2013

Saudi Arabia is beefing up its surveillance of a deadly coronavirus in advance of Muslims’ annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, which is set to begin on 13 October. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) has infected 135 people, killing 58, since it emerged about a year ago. Saudi Arabia has been hardest hit, with 117 confirmed cases and 49 deaths. (Nature News)