Riyadh, Feb 7 (IANS): The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has claimed three more lives and infected four others over the past few days in Saudi Arabia, a media report said Saturday.

According to health ministry officials, those who lost lives over the last two days are expatriates - two women aged 34 and 58 and a 37-year-old man, Arab News reported.

The four others infected are Saudis.

Health ministry statistics show that 365 people have died of the disease since 2012, out of 852 cases.

Twelve people are being treated at government hospitals across Saudi Arabia, while 475 have recovered completely.

"The government is doing its best to prevent the spread of the coronavirus," a ministry official said.

The ministry confirmed that the virus is transmitted from camels to humans, and has issued several advisories, warning people to stay away from the animals or wear protective masks, gloves and clothing if they have to make contact.

"People should avoid raw camel meat and liver and unpasteurised camel milk," he said.