A foreign woman has died after she contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) virus in Riyadh, bringing the death toll to 73 in Saudi Arabia,  a report said.

The 55-year-old woman, whose nationality was not disclosed, was suffering from chronic illnesses, the Health Ministry was quoted as saying by the Saudi Gazette report.

Five other people in Riyadh were infected with the Mers, two of them foreigners.

Earlier, late on Thursday, a 70-year-old Saudi woman died in Jeddah. The ministry reported six other infections in Jeddah, among them an expat health worker, bringing to 218 the number of Mers infections in the country, said the report.