Saudi Arabia has found 25 more cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) as the rate of infections increased and the disease claimed two more lives, the kingdom's health ministry said.

On Friday, seven people were confirmed as having MERS, followed by 18 more yesterday in the biggest daily rise in new infections reported so far.

The total number of cases in the kingdom now stands at 396, of whom 109 have died. The new cases include nine in Riyadh, 10 in Jeddah, four in Mecca and two in Medina.