The pattern of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia: a descriptive epidemiological analysis of data from the Saudi Ministry of Health

Alghamdi, Ibrahim G; Hussain, Issam I; Almalki, Shaia S; Alghamdi, Mohamed S; Alghamdi, Mansour M; El-Sheemy, Mohammed A

The average monthly temperature and relative humidity were calculated for the regions with the highest incidence of MERS-CoV infection, and this provided significant information about the temporal and environmental characteristics of this disease. Figure 3A shows that in Riyadh, the average temperature ranged from 15°C-37°C in April and May 2014, the period with the highest rate of cases and deaths. In contrast, the lowest average relative humidity values (between 8%-20%) occurred at this time ( Figure 3A and B) . Similarly, in Jeddah, the average temperature ranged from 20°C-37°C in April and May 2014, and the average relative humidity was the lowest recoded for the year, at 30%-35% ( Figure 3C and D) .