MERS remains a threat to Hong Kong

Two new cases in Saudi Arabia closely monitored.

The Department of Health said the two new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS reported to the World Health Organization by Saudi Arabia\ involve a 69-year-old man and a 66-year-old man. Both were admitted to hospital on June 28 and are in critical condition.

The Saudi Ministry of Health also announced two deaths in previously confirmed cases, involving a 63-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man.

This brings the latest global number of confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome to 79, including 42 deaths.

No human infection with this virus has been identified in Hong Kong.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus or MERS-CoV is a novel coronavirus first reported on September 24, 2012. The symptoms of this previously unknown coronavirus include renal failure and severe acute pneumonia, which often results in death. The death rate from MERS is estimated at 36%.