14 new cases of MERS, or the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, have emerged in South Korea, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 122. The new cases were reported Thursday by the health ministry, including a first infection of a pregnant woman.

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The widespread infection brought on by the virus since it was discovered last month has resulted in economic damage. So far, there have been at least nine deaths. Fortunately, in the past 24 hours, there have been no new deaths reported.

The current outbreak of MERS in South Korea has fast become the largest outbreak of the virus outside of its origin, Saudi Arabia. As a result of the outbreak, more than 2,400 schools were closed in the country.

The virus also brought on widespread concern for the South Korea's economy, which is considered Asia's fourth largest. The Central Bank of South Korea has now cut interest rates to a 1.50 percent, considered a record low for the country, reported EuroNews.

The decision to cut Bank of Korea's benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point was centered slowing of exports as well as threats posed by MERS to the business sector, according to Governor Lee Ju-yeol .

"We decided to cut rates today in a pre-emptive move to contain the economic fallout from MERS," Lee Ju-yeol said during a media briefing.

Economic policymakers are put under pressure to rouse the country's economy, according to Reuters. Businesses in the country such as shopping malls, restaurants, even cinemas have had a sharp drop in sales ever since citizens started shunning public venues.

Korea's Tourism Board reported that more than 54,000 foreign travelers have cancelled package trips to the country as well, according to Al Jazeera.

President Park Geun-hye was supposed to head to the United States, but has put it off instead to deal with the outbreak.

Across the region, concern is also starting to spread. In Hong Kong, there have reportedly been dozens of suspected cases. None were confirmed after testing.

The outbreak in South Korea began after a 68-year-old South Korean businessman went on several trips across the Middle East. All infections following the businessman have been traced back to him. All were infected while inside health facilities.

MERS is a less infectious cousin of SARS, but deadlier. It was first discovered to infect humans in 2012, infecting 1,271 people, according to World Health Organization data. During the 2012 outbreak, at least 448 in the Middle East were reported to have died from the virus.

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