Story highlights Saudi Arabia reports 282 deaths from MERS since 2012

There are 688 cases over that time; 353 of those diagnosed recovered

MERS originated on the Arabian Peninsula but has since spread

CDC: The respiratory illness is deadly about 30% of the time

Saudi Arabia reported significantly more deaths from the MERS virus on Tuesday, the same day the country sacked one of its top health officials.

The Saudi Ministry of Health reported that 282 people have died since 2012 from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, a major uptick from the previous official death toll of 190.

This is out of 688 total cases in the Arab nation; 353 patients have recovered and 53 are still receiving treatment.

About five weeks ago, Saudi Arabia was reporting 339 known cases of MERS-CoV, 102 of which had resulted in deaths.

The new numbers came out the same day that acting Health Minister Adel bin Mohammed Fakieh announced he had relieved Deputy Health Minister Dr. Ziad Memish from his post, according to a statement on the health ministry's website. No reason was given.

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Last week, the World Health Organization reported it was aware of 636 "laboratory-confirmed cases" of MERS infections, which had led to 193 deaths. It is not immediately clear how Saudi Arabia's latest figures affect those numbers. There are documented cases of the virus around the world.

As a coronavirus, MERS is in the same group of illnesses as the common cold.

But it is much more lethal: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that about 30% of those infected have died.

Those with MERS have severe acute respiratory illness, including symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some develop more dangerous complications like pneumonia and kidney failure.

There is no vaccine or special treatment.