A 74-year-old Saudi man died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) corona virus on Tuesday. With this, the total number of people who succumbed to the disease has reached 431 in the Kingdom since June 2012. Nine more cases have been reported from various parts of the country, taking the total number of those infected with MERS to 996 in the same period, the Ministry of Health said.

The senior citizen who died following the infection was from Taif. Among the nine who have been infected are six Saudis and three expatriates from Hofuf, Taif and Riyadh, the Ministry said in a statement, adding that six of them are men. Four of the cases were from Riyadh and Hofuf, while the other was from Taif.

So far, 552 patients have recovered fully and 13 are currently taking treatment at various hospitals in the Kingdom, the Ministry said.

Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani said the ministry has opened a 24-hour hotline: 937 to help the members of the public on any matters related to MERS. He said that the caller will be assured of his privacy and the authorities would offer their services as required through this line.

The official explained that there are three major hospitals in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah that have been designated as centers of excellence to treat MERS patients. In addition to these facilities, he said the ministry has assigned 20 more well equipped hospital in all the health regions to look after MERS casualties.

According to the World Health Organisation, (WHO),the full picture on the source of the virus is not yet clear. Strains of MERS‐CoV that match human strains have been isolated from camels in Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. These and other studies have found MERS‐CoV antibodies in camels across Africa and the Middle East. Human and camel genetic sequence data demonstrate a close link between the virus found in camels and that found in people. It is possible that other reservoirs exist. However, other animals, including goats, cows, sheep, water buffalo, swine, and wild birds, have been tested for antibodies to MERS‐CoV, but so far none have been found in these animals. These studies combined support the premise that camels are a likely source of infection in humans.

As a general precaution, anyone visiting farms, markets, barns, or other places where animals are present should practice general hygiene measures, including regular hand washing before and after touching animals, and avoid contact with sick animals.

The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, carries a high risk of infection from a variety of organisms that might cause disease in humans. Animal products processed appropriately through cooking or pasteurization are safe for consumption, but should also be handled with care to avoid cross‐contamination with uncooked foods. Camel meat and camel milk are nutritious products that can continue to be consumed after pasteurization, cooking, or other heat treatments.