S. Korea Reports no MERS Infection for 9 Days

Seoul (PNA/Xinhua) — South Korea reported no new case of infection with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) for nine straight days on Tuesday, indicating the end of the MERS crisis is nearing, the health ministry said.

The total contagion cases were unchanged at 186 since July 6, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The spread of the MERS corona virus recently showed signs of abating with only four cases reported in the past 17 days. The government may declare an end to the MERS crisis no later than early August.

The death toll had remained at 36 for three days in a row, leaving the fatality rate at 19.4 percent.

One more patient was discharged from a hospital as he completely recovered, which brought to 131 the number of patients who recovered after the infection.

Excluding the dead and those discharged, 19 patients are still under treatment, four of whom are in unstable conditions.

The number of those quarantined rose from 451 on Monday to 410 on Tuesday. (PNA/Xinhua) FFC/EBP