国际英语新闻:7 new MERS cases reported in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- As many as seven new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) corona virus cases were reported on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, health ministry said.

It was the second day in a row on which new cases of this epidemics were reported. On Wednesday, the country saw five new cases. The increase has brought the total cases since 2012 to 869, of which 369 cases died and 19 are still at hospital.

Saudi Arabia warned on Sunday that the following three weeks could see a rise in the number of reported MERS cases.

The possible increase was attributed to the changing and cold weather in the country that still has the most corona virus cases in the world.

A World Health Organization (WHO) delegation will visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days to give instructions.

The Saudis stressed that they will go on working with the WHO and local concerned bodies to prevent the spread of the virus.