First MERS death in South Korea after eight days

A death was reported due to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS) in South Korea after a span of eight days, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

The spread of the MERS corona virus has, however, recently shown signs of abating, with the total number of MERS infection cases remaining unchanged at 186 for three consecutive days since Sunday, Xinhua reported, citing the ministry.

Patient 177 died on Tuesday, raising the toll to 34 and the fatality rate to 18.3%.

The South Korean government plans to declare an end to the MERS spread if 28 days, or twice the 14-day duration of the incubation period, pass without any case of infection reported.

The discharge number increased to 119 as one more patient was discharged from a hospital after he recovered.

A total of 33 patients are under treatment at present. Nine among them are in critical condition.

The number of those quarantined rose from 674 on Tuesday to 811 on Wednesday.