South Korea’s health ministry announced on Monday five new cases of viral respiratory disease (MERS). A total of 150 cases have already been recorded in this country. 16 patients died.
The MERS virus was first found in South Korea in May in a 68-year-old businessman who had returned from a trip to the Middle East.
The MERS virus (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) is similar to the SARS virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which in 2002-2003 killed around 800 people worldwide. May cause cough, fever and pneumonia.
The death rate for MERS is significantly higher than the mortality rate in people with SARS. According to the World Health Organization, approx. 35 percent. people infected with the MERS virus die. There is no vaccine.
So far, MERS has performed in over 20 countries. Most cases were recorded in Saudi Arabia – 2012 people infected with the virus have died there since 412.