# 9152
Although the overall number of new MERS cases reported in Saudi Arabia remains far below the kind of level we were seeing last spring, today the Saudi MOH announced their 7th case from Taif since September 12th.
Two have involved health care workers, and at least two have reported animal (camel) exposure.
Of particular concern, Taif is located just 60 miles to the east of Mecca, where 2 million religious pilgrims have gathered for the Hajj. While officials are already proclaiming Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca epidemic-free, says Saudi Arabia, given the incubation period of many infectious diseases, it may be several more weeks before that can be stated with certainty.
