Korea reports additional death from MERS, 12 new cases

Korea reported another death from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Saturday, along with 12 new cases that put the total number of people diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease at 138.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a 67-year-old woman died while receiving treatment at a hospital. She is believed to have been infected after coming in close contact with a MERS patient at a hospital in Pyeongtaek late last month. She was diagnosed on Wednesday.

Ministry officials said the woman already had health conditions, including high blood pressure, that were apparently worsened by MERS.

The latest fatality was the 14th since the outbreak of the viral respiratory illness here first confirmed on May 20. (Yonhap)