Saudi warns rise of MERS corona virus cases

RIYADH, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia has warned of expected rise of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) corona virus cases due to the coming of cold weather, Okaz local newspaper reported on Sunday.

The warning was made after four new cases were registered among Saudi males in the last seven days, in which all of them caught the virus through direct contact with camels.

Infection Control Consultant, Mohammed Abdulrahman, told the newspaper that despite the efforts of official organizations to encourage the public to be more careful while dealing with camels, many people aren't convinced that the animal is the source of the deadly virus.

Saudi Arabia has registered 1,483 cases, including 616 deaths since 2012, which the country topped the world of number of cases and mortality rate.