The new coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the Middle East, with cases recorded in at least nine countries in the region - six of them reported their first infections in the past week. Here is what you need to know about the spread of the virus in the MENA. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the first country in the Middle East to register a case of COVID-19. Five of the nine Middle Eastern countries that reported infections said their first cases were all linked to travellers from Iran. "In the Middle East, countries bordering Iran - like Turkey, Iraq - and countries that have large Shia communities are most at risk of importing the coronavirus."

Source: The North Africa Journal February 25, 2020 14:15 UTC