The number of Saudi dead from Rift Valley Fever, which struck the Saudi-Yemen border area in early September, has climbed to 89 after another death, the health ministry said Friday.
"One more death have been recorded over the past 24 hours," said a statement released in Riyadh.
The health ministry said 475 people have contracted the virus, but 309 of them have been able to leave the hospital after recovering.
The virus has also struck neighboring Yemen, where the government has reported 97 deaths.
The World Health Organization has launched an appeal for 975,000 dollars to help boost international efforts to counter the disease in Yemen.
The symptoms of Rift Valley Fever include hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis and eye problems, although human deaths are supposed to be rare, according to experts.
The virus is usually contracted from mosquitoes, or by contact with the blood, bodily fluids or organs of infected animals – RIYADH (AFP)
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