'Strong immune system fends off MERS'

People with strong health immune system can fend off Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS) that has been stirring the nation, Yonhap News Agency said Saturday.

The report referred to the first patient who contracted the virus in Korea who recovered and left a government-designated hospital on Friday.

"Healthy people are not at the risk although they were infected with the virus," the report said.

The report quoted Professor Hong Ji-young from Konyang University Medical School as saying "The nation has been in a turmoil because no Korean has been reported to have the virus' antibody. But there were confirmed cases where those with healthy immune systems didn't even feel the virus infiltrating and naturally fought off the virus."

The report, however, said people with a history of medical illness are at risk of contracting the virus, including asthma and chronic lung inflammation.