Mystery disease strikes Saudi Arabia

Health officials blame mosquitoes for the mystery disease

By Julia Wheeler in Dubai

A mysterious kidney illiness has killed nearly 30 people in Saudi Arabia, health officials in the capital Riyadh reported.

The officials confirmed that the deaths caused by the disease had been reported in the province of Jizan.

Authorities in the province have imposed emergency measures after cases of the disease were detected in the past few days.

Health officials have been quoted as saying the symptoms of the disease include high fever, bloodshot eyes, burst arteries and kidney failure.

Mosquitoes

Officials say symptoms of the disease are similar to cases discovered in the Nile Valley region.

Jizan lies around 300km from the coast of Africa across the Red Sea.

High fever and kidney failure linked to the mysterious disease

The Saudi health minister was quoted as saying the disease may have been transmitted by mosquitos.

The town of Jizan, near the Yemeni border, is known for its heat and humidity at this time of year, combined with recent seasonal heavy rains makes it an ideal breeding ground for mosquitos.

The town of Jizan is home to a large number of expatriates, from Africa, South Asia, the Far East and Yemen.

Doctors in the Gulf countries often point to an increase in the incidents of diseases at this time of year because of what they call a crossroad of germs, with expatriates from around the world converging on their adopted home.