Saudi Arabia expected to see rise in Corona virus cases next 3 weeks

RIYADH (Xinhua) - Saudi Arabia warned that the following three weeks could see a rise in the number of reported Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS) corona virus cases, Al Eqtisadiya newspaper reported on Sunday.

The possible increase was attributed to the changing and cold weather in the country that still has the most corona virus cases in the world.

A World Health Organization (WHO) delegation will visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days to give instructions, undersecretary of health ministry, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Saeed, told the newspaper.

He noted that since beginning of 2015 no cases were reported among medic.

The oil-rich Middle East nation reported as many as 11 coronavirus cases in February, Saudi Press Agency reported Saturday.

The infections were identified in such Saudi cities as Hofuf, Dammam, Kharj, Riyadh and Najran, the Saudi Health Ministry said in a statement.

The number could rise in the coming period due to weather change, the ministry added.

The Saudis stressed that they will go on working with the WHO and local concerned bodies to prevent the spread of the virus.

A total of 855 cases have been reported since 2012, including 366 deaths. About 15 cases are under medical treatment.