Seventy-Two-Year-Old Woman Succumbs to MERS Taking The Death Toll To 11 in South Korea

The death of a 72-year-old woman took the toll to 11 of those who succumbed to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) or corona virus in South Korea.

The new victim was the only carrier of corona virus in the entire South Jeolla province. With this death, the mortality rate of the MERS outbreak, first detected in South Korea on May 20, has crossed eight percent.

The total number of infections in the country increased to 126 after four new cases were detected. The government has claimed that the outbreak was under control as all the infections have occurred in hospitals.

The virus has affected up to 55 health centers across the country and at least five of them have stopped admitting new patients.

A total of 3,680 people have been quarantined while 2,788 of the 20,000 educational institutions in the country have temporarily shut down.

MERS has a 40 percent mortality rate (recorded in earlier outbreaks), according to World Health Organization, and cannot be treated with vaccines or medicines.

In the wake of the outbreak, more South Koreans have begun using masks in public places and taking precautionary measures such as increasing hygiene and refrain from visiting hospitals.



Source: IANS