New virus deadlier than SARS

Saudi Arabia is the background for a new respiratory virus feared by epidemiologists to be deadlier than SARS.

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome has claimed 38 victims from the 60 reported investigations. The majority of the cases reported have been in Saudi Arabia. Scientists claim the virus, related to the SARS coronavirus, can easily spread between people particularly in enclosed places like hospitals.

In the 2003 pandemic the SARS virus killed 800 people. The MERS fatality rate in Saudi Arabia is 60% higher than SARS.

It is believed bats, camels or goats are involved in the virus's origins. One way of infection is through contamination of food by bats. Symptoms involve fever and cough before pneumonia sets in.

Scientists confirmed no reliable treatment has been found.