Saudi Arabia has had 38 cases in total of the new SARS-related virus.Saudi Arabia has had 38 cases in total of the new SARS-related virus. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has reported that three more people have died from a new respiratory virus related to SARS, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 24.

The Ministry of Health said Sunday the three deceased were among 38 infected in the kingdom with the respiratory virus called MERS.

It says two of the three whose deaths were reported Sunday were suffering from chronic diseases.

The World Health Organization said Saturday, prior to the latest Saudi announcement, that it was informed of 51 confirmed cases of the new virus since September and 30 cases were fatal.

The new virus is related to SARS, which killed some 800 people in a global epidemic in 2003, and belongs to a family of viruses that most often causes the common cold

Meanwhile, three people are being treated in Italy for the new respiratory virus.

A 45-year-old man who had recently returned from a 40-day visit to Jordan was hospitalized in Tuscany with a high fever, cough and respiratory problems, the ministry said. It marked the country's first case of the MERS coronavirus.

Tuscan regional officials say that a young child who is related to the man and a work colleague also have the virus, the ministry said.

All three patients were reported to be in good condition and were being treated in isolation.

The virus is related to SARS, which killed about 800 people in a global epidemic in 2003. The U.N. health agency said earlier Saturday that it had been informed of 51 confirmed cases of the new virus since September.

Thirty of those cases were fatal, including that of a Frenchman who died earlier in the week. Cases in Britain and Germany also have been reported.

Most of those infected had travelled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan.