Death toll now stands at 20, plus 8 new cases recorded

onnaedo

June 17, 2015 3:59 PM

The latest MERS patient to die in South Korea was a 54-year-old woman who had bronchiectasis and high blood pressure.

The death toll from the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus has now reached 20 in South Korea, even as health authorities have reported 8 new cases.

All the people who have so far died from the disease are either those who already had ailments or elderly people.

162 people in total have been infected with the disease, while 19 people diagnosed with the MERS virus had recovered and been discharged from hospital since the outbreak began.

Over 6,500 people are in quarantine, either at home or in health facilities.

Also, all of the infections known to have occurred in South Korea have taken place in healthcare facilities, 3 of which have been at least partially shut and 2 locked down with patients and medical staff inside.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, the Nigerian Security Advisor issued a security alert over the virus.

onnaedo