Saudi Arabia reports latest death from new virus

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia says it has recorded another death from a new respiratory virus related to SARS, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 16.

Saudi Arabia remains the center for the virus as investigators from the World Health Organization seek more clues about its origins and how it is spread. More than 20 people have died from the virus worldwide.

The Saudi Health Ministry announced the latest death yesterday but gave no other details.

Since September 2012, the WHO has been informed of 41 confirmed cases of the virus.

The virus has been compared to SARS, a respiratory infection that surfaced in China in late 2002 and killed at least 774 people worldwide.