#12,107
Ten days into the new year and Saudi Arabia has already reported 12 new MERS cases, and 8 fatal outcomes. Today's report includes a new primary case in Riyadh - exposure unknown - and the 4th fatal case among 6 recent female cases reported in Buraidah.
Although it is too small of a sample to consider it a trend, it is worth noting that since the 1st of the year 7 of Saudi's 12 cases have been female, albeit all but one part of the Buraidah cluster. This is a departure from the usual demographic, which normally skews heavily towards older men.
