Saudi Arabia’s health ministry reported that three more people died from a new respiratory virus called MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which is related to SARS. The latest deaths bring the total number of deaths globally to 30.

Saudi Arabian authorities said the deadly MERS virus killed three people who had chronic diseases, including kidney failure. They ranged in age from 24 to 60. They were hospitalized a month ago.

The health ministry also said a new case of the virus has been recorded: A 61-year-old person from the Al-Ahsa region where outbreak started in April. This brings the number of people infected with the MERS virus in the Saudi Arabia to 38.

The World Health Organization said the new germ has sickened more than 49 people worldwide. In her closing speech to the 66th session of the World Health Assembly, Margaret Chan, the director general of the World Health Organization, called the virus "a threat to the entire world." She warned, "Looking at the overall global situation, my greatest concern right now is the novel coronavirus. We understand too little about this virus when viewed against the magnitude of its potential threat. Any new disease that is emerging faster than our understanding is never under control. These are alarm bells and we must respond. The novel coronavirus is not a problem that any single affected country can keep to itself or manage all by itself."

Before the new case was announced, the WHO said Saturday that it was informed of 51 confirmed cases of the new virus since September and 30 cases were fatal including a Frenchman who died earlier in the week. Cases have also been reported in Britain and Germany.

Three people are being treated in Italy for the new respiratory virus. A 45-year-old man who had recently returned from Jordan was hospitalized in Tuscany with symptoms including high fever, cough and respiratory problems. Tuscan officials said a child who is related to the man and a co-worker also have the virus. All three patients are being treated in isolation and are reported to be in good condition.

The new virus is related to SARS, which killed about 800 people in a global epidemic in 2003.

by Tony Sokol