Spread of MERS in Saudi Arabia accelerates with 17 new cases

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* Confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia up by a third in past week * Health minister was replaced on Monday * Authorities unsure of reason for sudden surge in cases By Angus McDowall RIYADH, April 22 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has discovered a**ther 17 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as the total number of confirmed infections of the SARS-like disease has jumped by a third in the kingdom in the past week. King Abdullah replaced the health minister, Abdullah al-Rabeeah, on Monday amid growing public disquiet at the spread of the disease, which was discovered two years ago and kills around a third of sufferers. Rabeeah said on Sunday he did **t k**w why there had been a surge but said it might be part of a seasonal pattern since there had also been a rise in infections last April and May. However, the jump is of particular concern as Saudi Arabia is expected to have a large influx of pilgrims from across the world in July during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, followed in early October by the arrival of millions of people to perform the annual Haj in Mecca and Medina.

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