South Koreans are in a state of panic after four new cases were reported, increasing the death toll to 19. Health officials say on Tuesday that the total number of cases has reached 154. MERS-CoV or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome was brought to the country by a citizen who had his vacation in Dubai last month, Reuters reports.
MERS is a potentially-deadly disease that causes a wide array of respiratory-related symptoms. Children, pregnant women and those who are older are at a higher risk of serious complications from the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MERS is just a new disease that emerged in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Health and Welfare Ministry, most of the new cases were incurred when the patients visited Samsung Medical Center in Seoul where most of the infections came from. Due to its link to most of the infections, the hospital which is run by Samsung Group, has voluntarily shut down most of its operations until June 24, reports Yonhap News Agency.
However, 17 from the 154 cases were discharged from the hospital after they all recovered. The health officials are tracking all contacts of those infected with the virus. Up to date, there are 5,580 people who are currently isolated for possible infection after coming in contact with MERS patients.
This outbreak is now known as the largest outbreak of the virus outside Saudi Arabia, reports Macleans. The first case of MERS was diagnosed on May 20. Now, MERS has created mass fear over their health and well-being.
The government is performing protocols to track every contact of those who tested positive of MERS in order to control the vast spread of the deadly disease. People are airing their sentiments over the government's lack of initial response and preparedness for the outbreak.