According to a statement released by the Saudi Health Ministry on Oct 16, 76 people have died from an outbreak of Rift Valley fever and 408 people had contracted the disease. In neighbouring Yemen, health officials said on Oct 14 that 70 people have died from the disease. At a press conference on Oct 14 government ministers including, the Yemeni Minister of Health, Abdullah Abdulwali Nashir, and the Saudi Minister of Health, Osama bin Abdulmajeed Shobokshi, said that a joint field team would be formed to tackle the epidemic.