The South Korean Health Ministry has announced that one patient has died and 14 other people have been diagnosed with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) this week, bringing the total number of casualties and infections from the virus to 10 and 122 respectively.

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This revelation by South Korean authorities comes just days after the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that based on its assessment of the situation; there has not been sustained human-to-human contact or airborne transmission.

On Tuesday, WHO experts, who are collaborating on a joint mission with the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare to assess the MERS outbreak, recommended that authorities should consider reopening schools. Thousands of schools have reportedly been shut down across the country as a precautionary measure. However, WHO experts say schools have not been linked to the transmission of MERS in South Korea.

In a statement, the WHO noted that current evidence suggests that the pattern of the MERS outbreak in South Korea is similar to outbreaks of the virus in other parts of the world. Nonetheless, the experts also highlighted the fact that the situation is rapidly evolving and more investigation is necessary.

On Wednesday, June 10, Xinhua reported that a Chinese national had become infected with MERS in South Korea. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), the unidentified woman had come into contact with a MERS patient in a South Korean hospital where she worked before she was diagnosed with the virus. She is the first Chinese national to be infected with the virus in the recent outbreak.

Meanwhile, health authorities have noted that a South Korean MERS patient in Guangdong, who travelled to China despite medical advice, is showing signs of recovery. He has reportedly not had any fever for up to four days. Nonetheless, his lungs are still showing signs of inflammation.

Guangdong authorities have revealed that about 75 people, who had close contact with the patient and had therefore been under quarantine, have been released.

Several countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens against visiting South Korea at the moment. Experts say the ongoing epidemic is going to take a toll on the country's tourism industry and its general economy. The outbreak has prompted South Korea to cut interest rates by 1.5%, and this has alarmed many experts as it is one of the lowest points the country's interest rate has reached.

According to Daily Mail, government data shows that shopping at department stores and discount stores have fallen by 25 percent and 7.2 percent respectively in the first week of June. However, online shopping has increased slightly.

South Korean experts have theorized that the rate of MERS infections and casualties could be related to a genetic trait specific to Koreans. But reports indicate that all the people who have died from the virus thus far have all been battling with other medical conditions.

TagsSouth Korea MERS outbreak, WHO MERS South Korea, World Health Organization (WHO) MERS ourbreak