Deaths from the MERS virus have surged in Saudi Arabia, health ministry figures showed Friday, after authorities warned of a seasonal increase in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The ministry recorded five deaths Thursday alone, bringing to 16 the number since February 11.

That figure compares with a single death from the virus in the first 10 days of the month.

Saudi Arabia is the country which has been hardest hit by the MERS virus, which was first identified in 2012. A total of 899 people have been infected in the kingdom, of whom 382 have died.