By Tom Rayner, Middle East Reporter
The number of fatal cases from a deadly flu virus in Saudi Arabia has risen to more than 100.
The country's health ministry has recorded a 73% spike in cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), or coronavirus, since the start of the month.
Last night, it confirmed eight new deaths in the last 24 hours, including one child.
Of the 339 confirmed cases, 102 people have now died from the SARS-like virus in Saudi Arabia since it was first detected in 2012.
Cases of infection have been confirmed in other countries around the region including Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and, most recently, Egypt.
Infected individuals have also been identified in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Tunisia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
An electron microscope image of coronavirus Symptoms of the virus include shortness of breath, fever, coughing, kidney failure and diarrhoea.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said around 75% of reported cases were acquired through contact with an infected person.
It is offering assistance to Saudi Arabia to monitor any "evolving risk".
Many recent cases of infection have been hospital workers or people who have been in hospital environments, such as other patients and their visitors.
Concerns have been raised in Saudi Arabia about the government's handling of the crisis and people have taken to wearing surgical masks in many major towns and cities.
Health Minister Abdullah Al Rabiah was recently sacked Last Monday, health minister Abdullah Al Rabiah was dismissed from his post, although there was no official confirmation this was connected to the MERS outbreak.
King Abdullah was reported to have visited Jeddah on Thursday to play down what he claimed were "exaggerated and false rumours" about the virus.
The country has now established three specialist treatment centres in hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Western diplomatic sources in Saudi Arabia have said they believe the government views the situation seriously and is taking "proactive responses".
Significant efforts are now being made to understand more about the virus, for which there is no known vaccine.
Experts consider it to be a more dangerous but less infectious off-shoot of the SARS virus, which spread through Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, leaving nearly 800 people dead.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel guidance for Saudi Arabia to make travellers aware of the presence of MERS.
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