Girl Dies from MERS Virus in Saudia Arabia, 54 Cases Confirmed by WHO

The latest case of the deadly MERS virus has been pinned to a 14-year-old Saudi girl, according to a statement the WHO made this Wednesday.

The World Health Organization has been informed of 54 cases regarding the virus, which include 30 deaths.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the MERS virus, otherwise known as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus" (MERS-CoV). Cases were first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, and are different from other coronaviruses that have been found in others with similar symptoms.

The most common symptoms of the disease include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Over half of the reported cases have resulted in death, while some only report symptoms relating to a mild respiratory illness.

Health officials note that the virus has been known to spread between people who are in close contact, with transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel throughout Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Tunisia and Italy that are currently under investigation.

However, CNN notes that health officials are uncertain at this time about about all the ways the newly discovered virus spreads, which can make it difficult to prevent infections.

The AFP also writes that "health officials have expressed concern about the high rate of fatalities compared to the number of cases, warning that the disease could spark a new global crisis if it acquires an ability to spread more easily."