The death toll from Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a virus that has affected the Arabian peninsula for more than two months, has risen to 109 in Saudi Arabia, the health ministry said Friday.
"One hundred and nine people have died from RVF up until Saturday afternoon," the health ministry said in a statement published by the official SPA news agency.
It said 793 people had contracted the illness, of whom 665 had left hospital after being cured.
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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