S. Korea Reports No MERS Infection for 5 days, No Death Added

Seoul (PNA/Xinhua) — South Korea reported no new case of infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) for five days in a row on Friday, with no death being added for two straight days, the health ministry said.

The total contagion cases were unchanged at 186 since Monday, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The spread of the MERS corona virus recently showed signs of abating. In the past 13 days, only four cases were reported. The government may declare an end to the MERS crisis no later than end-July.

The death toll has not change at 35 for the second straight day, leaving the fatality rate at 18.8 percent.

Five more patients were discharged from hospitals as they completely recovered after being infected. The total discharge number increased to 125, accounting for more than two thirds of the combined infectees.

Excluding the dead and those discharged, 26 patients are under treatment. Among them, seven are in unstable conditions.

The number of those quarantined decreased from 689 on Thursday to 566 on Friday. (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/EBP