07 May 2013 (09:19 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Jumada t-Tania 1434/17 Ordibehest 1391/28 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The new SARS like virus in Saudi Arabia has killed two more people.  The death toll is now 18.

Both of the latest victims were from the same family, from the Al-Ahsa governorate.  So far six of the deaths were people from Al-Ahsa.

Health officials still don’t understand how the new coronavirus works.  It results in death from pneumonia or kidney failure.  Some researchers think it’s related to a bat virus.  However, most victims did not have contact with non-human animals.

International health researchers have decided on a name for the new virus: MERS.  It stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.