The Saudi health ministry on Monday confirmed that 49 people were tested positive with the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus.

According to the ministry, 47 cases were reported in capital Riyadh and the two others were in Najran and Abha, Xinhua news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia has identified 1,147 infections of the virus, including 487 deaths, since the appearance of the disease in the country in 2012.

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