MERS Comes to a Standstill in South Korea After No New Case Reported for 8 Days

For the eight consecutive day in South Korea there has been no new case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported.

The total number of infected remained at 186 and the toll at 36 as the country has reported no fatality since July 10, the health ministry said.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) - Causes Symptoms Treatment Prevention
MERS, a newly discovered respiratory disease, was recently reported in the Arabian region. MERS is caused by a virus similar to that causing common cold and other respiratory illnesses.

There are 451 people in isolation as suspected cases following possible exposure to the MERS coronavirus, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Since the country reported its first case on May 20, nearly 16,700 people have been subjected to isolation for possible infection. So far, 16,231 of them have been released after they showed no symptom of MERS for more than the known maximum incubation period of 14 days for the disease.

Of those diagnosed with MERS, 130 have been discharged from hospitals following complete recoveries. The 20 others remain hospitalized, with four being in unstable condition.

After a Brief Respite of Eight Days, MERS Takes a Life in South Korea
The South Korean government was all-set to call it 'the end of MERS' when a recent death dashed all hopes of having contained the deadly virus.

MERS has claimed over 530 lives globally, posting a fatality rate of over 36 percent. In South Korea, the fatality rate stands at 19.4 percent.

There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the disease that was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.

MERS Affects Another Doctor At Samsung Medical Center, Bringing Total To 185
A total of 13 medical personnel at Samsung hospital have contracted MERS virus during the course of the outbreak, including two nurses last week.

Source-IANS

South Korea Hit by the Largest Outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
South Korea is reeling under the worst case of MERS outbreak, which has already claimed nine lives, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 108.