MERS outbreak: Death toll rises to 16 in South Korea, Saudi Arabia gets 5 new cases

Washington, June 15: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has claimed one more life in South Korea making the death toll to 16 while new cases of the virus have been reported in Saudi Arabia, media reported on Monday.

A total of 150 people tested positive for the MERS in South Korea since its outbreak on May 20, CNN reported.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Strain of coronavirus that causes MERS was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It has warned that the outbreak is "large and complex"

Samsung Medical Center in Seoul announced Sunday that it will suspend all surgical procedures except for emergency surgery "to fully focus on responding to MERS."

"We sincerely apologize with our heads bent to the people for causing great concern as Samsung Medical Center became the center (of) the spread of MERS," hospital President Song Jae-hoon said.

OneIndia News