Saudi Arabia's first Ebola-infected patient died on Wednesday in Jeddah despite treatment, Saudi Press Agency said.

The 40-year-old male patient was already in critical conditions when admitted to the ICU isolation ward on Monday. The Health Ministry has been following his case ever since he showed symptoms of hemorrhagic fever after a business trip to Sierra Leone. The authority has also put all those who had been in direct contact with the patient under medical observation.

The Saudi Health Ministry has coordinated with the World Health Organization in sending the patient's samples to a number of international labs in the United States and Germany for Ebola tests.

Ebola, which has killed over 800 people in West African countries, spreads through mucous and other body fluid or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people. It is believed to be very difficult to control.

Altogether 1,603 infections and 887 deaths have been recorded in the Ebola-hit countries of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization said. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)