UAE: Paramedic dies from MERS, others infected

The United Arab Emirates Interior Ministry says one of its paramedics has died after contracting Middle East respiratory syndrome and that five others are also infected.

State news agency WAM quoted the ministry Friday saying that the victims are all Filipino nationals. It did not provide further details on their identities.

It says the five infected paramedics have been placed under quarantine and that people who have recently been treated by them are being checked for infection. The five were found to have contracted the virus during routine check-ups.

MERS belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that include both the common cold and SARS, which killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003. It can cause fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure.