TOKYO (Sputnik) – The South Korean government expects this week to be vital in stopping the spread of the disease.
The number of people quarantined exceeded 3,400, with 2,200 educational facilities closed across the country over fears of the disease spreading further.
South Korean authorities have acknowledged that the outbreak has been fueled by insufficient safety measures during the hospitalization of the first patients diagnosed with MERS.
Hong Kong earlier issued a red alert advisory against trips to South Korea. Russia's Far East regions began thorough health checks of those arriving from South Korea.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is a viral respiratory disease caused by the MERS-coronavirus. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia from where it spread to other countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), typical symptoms of MERS include fever, coughing and a shortness of breath.
